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Jack Bauer’s Guide to Executive Success

BY: MICHAEL STERN April 12, 2006


What does it take to succeed in business today?

You have to be decisive. You have to be focused. And you must be a good communicator, because nobody succeeds by themselves.

In other words, you have to be a lot like Jack Bauer.

If you said, “Jack Who?” read the next paragraph. If you already know Jack, just skip it.
As played by Emmy-winning Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland, Jack Bauer is the intense counterterrorism expert in the hit Fox series “24.” Now in its fifth season, “24” puts Bauer through the wringer every week as he strives to prevent horrifying terrorist threats ranging from assassination to plague to nuclear holocaust.

“24” is gripping melodrama, and I’ve recently become a “24” junkie. I have seen the first four seasons on DVD and I’m working my way through the current one. But I don’t watch it for the non-stop action, the quirky characters or the multiple plot twists. I watch it because of all the business-related learning. OK, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it! But, the fact is, “24” does make many points about leadership and effectiveness.

Sutherland’s Jack Bauer is a moody Everyman who triumphs against overwhelming odds because he is an effective leader and planner who thinks ahead, gets the most from his team, and uses information creatively to get an edge over his more powerful opponents.

Take the time that he had to prepare for a shootout with a gang of gunmen. Instead of crashing the villains’ headquarters, he had a colleague commandeer a spy satellite to give him a bird’s-eye view of the locale, and spot each individual bad guy through infrared imaging.

And how does he rate such service? Because he’s a caring, compassionate leader. His computer-genius colleague Chloe will do anything for Jack because he once saved the life of her friend – even though it endangered his plan for stopping a band of terrorists.

Now, chances are you don’t need satellite imagery in your line of work, and you may never save anyone’s life. But everyone in business today faces similar challenges.

No one ever has all the information they require before making a decision, or time to round up the evidence. So you have to find creative ways to get what you need, whether it’s calling up spy satellites or obtaining market intelligence on your competitors.

And since no one has all the answers, you need to use all the resources your team can provide. But you will get the best from your people only if you have earned their respect with a personal track record of generous, even self-sacrificing behaviour – such as Jack’s.

Clear, direct communication is another aspect of leadership. Lots of executives have good ideas, but not all excel at conveying their plans to the people who must carry them out.

Just watch Jack issue order to his fellow agents – strategically, carefully, clearly. “You go around the back, you put the flak jacket in the window, you keep your eye on the door while I go after the nuclear bomb…” Jack’s plans are often complicated and always urgent, but he takes time to issue clear instructions that help his subordinates understand the big picture and the role they play in it.

Plus, Jack checks back as often as possible, monitoring his people’s progress and listening to their concerns. And before you dismiss these as low-priority skills, keep in mind that in one recent study, more than 70% of U.S. employees said they were unclear about what their boss wants from them.

Decisiveness also plays a big role in Jack’s success. He makes the best decisions he can, even if all the answers aren’t in. He takes risks and the responsibility for them. He’s task-oriented and focused – he knows what he has to do and he gets the job done.

If necessary, he’ll put himself in harm’s way, as he did one time when he volunteered to be taken hostage – mainly because it was the best way to get close enough to the bad guys to have a hope of stopping them.
Clearly, Jack’s also very resourceful, always finding new ways to overcome obstacles.

While your job description probably doesn’t involve threatening obstinate rivals with a live electric wire, it surely demands that you seek out innovative ways to motivate your staff, reduce costs and improve customer service.

Finally, the basic gimmick of “24” also resonates for today’s harried professionals. The show plays out in “real time:” each episode covers an hour’s worth of plot, and the entire season takes place in one day.

As such, “24” reflects the nervous urgency of today’s business world. In this “always on” age, many people are afraid to turn off their cell phones or Blackberry, obsessively responding to every buzz or ring from the first thing in the morning to the last thing at night.

Jack’s ability to go long periods without eating or sleeping makes him the envy of many overworked business people. It’s a reminder that we all have to keep in shape so we can stay sharp and alert when a sudden crisis springs up or a big deal needs 24/7 attention.

But remember: at least a year passes between each season of 24, sometimes more. Since Jack is always trying to escape active field duty, and spend more time building a normal life for himself. That means he also recognizes the importance of work-life balance – a consideration that escapes many other professionals until it’s too late.