Criminal Minds: Teaching me leadership... one episode at a time.

My good friend and "colleague" (had to throw that one in there) Tyler Crosson has gotten me hooked on the CBS drama, Criminal Minds.  If you're not familiar with the show, a team of FBI Agents (also known as behavior anaylsts) work to solve crimes by way of "understanding the killer."  It's got just the right pace and momentum to keep me hooked.

In an episode I watched just recently, a former agent, Max Ryan, has just authored a book on a serial killer.  Although Ryan is retired, this is just one case he can't seem to solve -- despite the years and years of research he's done on this UNSUB (unidentified subject).  Because this "UNSUB" hasn't struck in awhile, Ryan thinks the killer has either stopped .. or is dead.  But as Hollywood would have it, the "UNSUB" is most definitely still alive.

Ryan has been around the FBI for a very long time.  He's a seasoned vet of the department.  He's pretty arrogant and prefers to work alone.  He's not a fan of "team."

You can probably see where this is headed...

During one particular scene, shortly after the "UNSUB" has struck again, Ryan makes a snide remark in reference to working with other people who "slow him down."  He's referring to the other FBI agents (who, for all intent and purposes, have solved every crime since the beginning of the season...)

One of the supervisory agents (Jason Gideon) has also been with the department for a very long time.  He also worked closely with Ryan before Ryan's retirement.  Gideon goes on to tell him that this team of agents are some of the most brilliant people around.

While Gideon could most certainly have chiden Ryan for asserting such an opinion, he didn't.  He calmly looks at Ryan and says, "If you'll give us a chance, we want to help you."

Did you catch that?

Ryan has been studying this case for years, although he's no longer an active agent.  Gideon, a current agent, understands how important this case is to Ryan.  Gideon doesn't bring his fist down in pride (and insecurity) to establish his authority over Ryan; he instead empowers him.

Had Gideon responded in frustration, Ryan would still be angry .. and they would be no closer to solving the crime.  But Gideon, being the suave leader he is, knows that by empowering Ryan (and communicating trust), they can ultimately fulfill their objective (of bringing down the bad guy).

So, how does this apply to everyday leadership:

Empower, empower, empower!

If you're in a similar situation (and you're the leader, of course), communicate to the person that you trust him or her.  Instead of acting out of insecurity and "bringing down the iron fist" to prove your power over that person (which will only further frustrate the person and widen the relationship gap that may already exist), give the person power.  If you trust him or her and have already communicated that trust (both verbally and non-verbally), they will take you for your word and buy into what you're saying.  Although they're not ultimately in charge of the situation, by you giving them said power, you are saying to him or her that you value their service.  If they feel valued and empowered, they'll be that much more willing to be "a part of the team."

Freedom

This is a devotional from my NLT Daily Walk Bible that I wanted to share:

Which of these statements best describes the Christian life?

"The Christian life is a bunch of dos and don'ts!"

"The Christian life is liberty to do as I please!"

Neither one is true. To be sure, in Christ there is freedom from slavery to sin and release from the guilt of past failures. But liberty does not mean license to live as you please. The Israelites were free from Egyptian slavery, but they were not free to follow their every desire. God wanted them to live as his chosen people, so he gave them rules for their daily conduct - not to spoil their fun, but for their protection and profit, and to set them apart from the rest of the world as his own people.

Imagine what a ball game would be like without rules: no boundaries, no clock, no referees, no time limit. Probably no fun! Rules are essential for the enjoyment of life.

The tablets at Sinai were given to show the need for the cross at calvary.

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Obedience to Christ .. is freedom.

i get knocked down.. but i get up again

I'm not one to particularly enjoy figure skating, but my mom didn't give me much of a choice this evening. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for figure skating, however, I must say that the difficulty level intrigues me. How a girl can do the splits while standing up.. throws me for a complete loop.

But I digress..

Every time I see a girl about to go for a jump, I start to get nervous. Hours upon hours of work hinges on a 5-minute routine. Pressure?

But then you see the girl (or in some cases, man) fall.. And you wonder, could I get back up and keep going with the same enthusiasm.. the same passion.. the same yearning to succeed? Or do I just call this quits because I know I've failed?

I think fear of failure (or rejection) scares us all. I can remember times in my life when I chose not to live by faith out of fear of failing or being rejected.

And the reality is .. we will fall .. and we will fail .. and we will be rejected. But the truth remains: ...that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil. 1:6

Failing is a part of life. We have the hope, however, that God -- in His infinite mercy and grace -- allows it to happen to us for a very intentional reason. And since we're promised that He'll continue to refine us (upon our obedience), until the day He returns.. oh, the joy and hope we have that our failing goes on to serve a much, much greater purpose for our lives.

technical "challenges"

to my loyal readers --

with no Internet in Shreveport, posting has become quite the challenge.. (can't really do that from the iPhone)

I'll pick this project back up when I have more consistent accessibility to the WWW... in the near future

No fear.. 

The Lid is Open

A friend and I recently proposed the idea of writing a book. "25 Unlikely Catalysts: Ordinary Made Extraordinary" is the "working title." 

You see, I've always been drawn to those stories in which the Lord used a sinner (and often times, the sin) to do something incredible... all because the sinner chose obedience.

Or "Joe Nobody" was made "Joe Somebody" because he exercised faith in the only one who cannot fail.

It's a beautiful thing when the Lord, in His grace, uses ordinary men and women to do extraordinary things for the Kingdom.

Why?

It's in our weakness and depravity that the Lord's perfection and power is made real.

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Now, I've always been bad at this whole blogging thing...

Perhaps because I'm not witty (hence the blog title) and not creative, I find "pleasure writing" difficult.

Don't get me wrong, I love writing. But I enjoy writing in a box. Give me a research paper or news story to write, and I'm just content. On the other hand, have me sit down and write out "my thoughts" and I'm running in the opposite direction.

But the Lord has been stirring me lately... to do some of this... strange... journaling (of which I'm not a HUGE fan right now).

All that to say, I'm going to tackle a project beginning next Monday, 11/23.  At least once a week (maybe twice), I'm going to write about how God used an ordinary man or woman to ultimately communicate His plan of love and redemption.

I'm not sure how long I'll tackle this project.

Maybe two weeks, maybe a month, maybe several months...

But I feel strongly that the Lord is leading me to do this.

My prayer is that this project will serve as an encouragement to my "currently non-existent" reader base.. and myself; that through study of Scripture, which should move us to action, we will be drawn to yield our lives to the One who knows not of an "epic fail."

Oh, and about that "working title," I realize it reads a bit trite.  I scraped the "creativity barrel" long and hard on that one.  If you have any other ideas on a good book title, drop me a comment.  Who knows... I might just give you 10% of my royalties (when the book is published... in 15 years).