What “unfolding situation?”

Arapahoe High School Students Evacuate – December 13, 2013
Photo Credit: 9News.com

I tell the CEO whom I had come to meet about the message I have just received. Our daughters attend the same school not far from Arapahoe. We quickly tune in to a news channel to see live video of students running away from the school where a shooter has carried out yet another attack at a school.

I dash out a text message to my daughter who had been taking a final exam: “Where are you?” Send.

My son, at a middle school in the area, would still be in school and not allowed to use his cell phone. The district website confirmed his school was in lockout.

The Longest Minute

Have you ever brought a child into this world?

My mind flashes back to bringing them home from the hospital as newborns. My chest swells with a protective love for both of them. I am reminded in that moment, that I would give my life for them.

After a long, long minute, at 1:27pm, my phone lights up with a text response: “In the car with mommy. I’m ok :)”

“Ok good. I love you.”

“Love you!”

The Problem of Evil

At times like this, many of us feel powerless. It’s natural to ask why such tragedies happen. We may wonder where God is in all this. However, we shouldn’t be surprised when evil is wrought on this fallen, rebellious world. Grieved, certainly. Surprised? No.

Who among us loves everyone perfectly all the time? None of us do. If Augustine’s view of evil is true, that evil is essentially the absence of love, and if we all harbor a lack of love for others at times, then our own hearts have a tendency to give way to evil, even if in imperceptible or subtle forms.

A sneer. A harsh word not spoken in love. A white lie. An angry, dismissive gesture.

Such attacks at Arapahoe High School, Sandy Hook Elementary, Columbine High School, the Aurora movie theater and elsewhere, are at the very least, extreme expressions of the discord rooted in our own hearts.

One of the more intelligent treatments of the problem of evil that I’ve read is by scholar N.T. Wright. His lecture on the subject “Where is God on the ‘War on Terror’?” distills some thoughts from his excellent book, Evil and the Justice of God.

How Healthy Leaders Respond to Evil

A quote often attributed to 18^th century Irish statesman Edmund Burke, reads:

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

So how could we respond? In my experience, study and observations, healthy leaders respond to evil in times of crisis in four ways.

1. Healthy leaders accept the reality that evil exists in the world.

Healthy leaders are not caught off guard by negative reality. They adopt a sober view that both celebrates the goodness of creation and, as Wright suggests, “at the same time, understand and face up to the reality and seriousness of evil.”

2. Healthy leaders submit and pray.

The CEO with whom I was meeting that afternoon prayed right then and there in his office as the events unfolded. Healthy leaders recognize their own powerlessness to single-handedly combat evil and choose humility, not revenge. They submit to and call upon a power that is able to guide, protect and mend in the midst of darkness, trauma and pain. As a result, these people draw strength from God who has wired them for connection to Himself.

 3. Healthy leaders act quickly to protect life.

Upon entering the building, the shooter asked for a teacher by name. According to Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson, the teacher, alerted to the situation, quickly left the school in an attempt to draw the student to follow him away from the school. Robinson lauded the move as “the most important tactical decision that could be made.” Local law enforcement were praised for their quick response at Arapahoe, entering the building within a few minutes of the initial attack, based upon protocols established in the aftermath of the events at Columbine High School in 1999. Healthy leaders act quickly and decisively to preserve and protect those under their charge.

 4. Healthy leaders grieve their loss.

In addition to being an example of a positive, energizing and inspiring force, leaders face the essential of handling loss and sadness. “Sadness is the emotional signal of the reality of loss,” writes Dr. John Townsend in his book, Leadership Beyond Reason. He continues, “The main reason I think leaders have a particularly hard time with this emotion is that sadness means you are helpless to change some reality. Leaders resist helpless situations.”

“Sometimes just ‘getting over it’ will make things worse for you over time. If you have lost something or someone important to you, you will most likely have sad emotions about the loss. It’s best to give it the value it deserves by allowing some time to be sad. It will do you good, and you will move on from there.”

Cherish Them

Upon my return home December 13, 2013, both my teens greeted me at the door as we gave each other big, long hugs and exchanged “I love you’s.” Cherish your loved ones each day, for tomorrow is promised to no one.

Questions: In what ways have you experienced leaders responding to negative reality? How did it impact you? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

Tomas T, Multi Grand Champion Rocky Mountain Horse
Photo provided by current owner. Regrettably, photographer is unknown.

It was the day before Thanksgiving. Glorious blue skies, mild temperatures and distant mountain peaks garnished with snow reminded me that it was another good day to be in Colorado. A few miles outside of town, we turned onto a dirt road lined with white fences announcing pastures, ranches and a country lifestyle.

Upon arriving at the barn, my friend Stacey greeted us and introduced my kids and me to her horses. She handpicked Tomas T to be my steed for the day, while my teens met Easy Money and Glory, their new equine friends.

For the record, we are horse riding novices from the suburbs. Greenhorns. We’ve enjoyed a few trail rides where horses just plod along, nose-to-tail. That’s about it.

This day would be different.

I would also unexpectedly experience a living parable of great team performance.

The Ride

After saddling up, Stacey gave us some beginner’s instructions on how to ride our respective horses. Each had its own – shall we say – motivational preference. We practiced riding in a small corral then progressed to the bigger arena. Much to our excitement, we surpassed our previous riding experiences, gaining some decent speed in the arena.

After some practice, it was time to head out to the dirt roads of this charming ranching hamlet. Once on the open road, these horses love to run and compete with each other. My kids squealed with delight as each horse challenged the other to gallop faster down the country lane.

The Horse

As Tomas T churned his legs, I became enthralled at his sheer power, determination and focus. As we raced to the top of the hill, I held a tight rein so as to partially throttle back this Multi Grand Champion. Even so, the speed was exhilarating.

Tomas T was on a clear mission: to win the “race” back to the barn.

And yet, this powerful animal was also incredibly sensitive and responsive to his rider. Before we left the corral, Stacey had taught me that verbal cues or a squeeze of my legs would be enough for Tomas T to get his giddyup on. He did not need to feel the heels of my boots in his side.

I also learned how to signal him with a combination of a light touch of the reins and the easy pressure of my foot. This tactic could be used to quickly and completely disengage his forward momentum if needed. Stacey talked about how Tomas T, a Rocky Mountain Horse, was trained to respond to the subtle body position changes of the rider. He attends to the slightest cues from touches to various parts of his body, in addition to the reins.

In a word, this horse has presence.

The Rocky Mountain Horse Association’s magazine profiled this majestic “Rockie” about 10 years ago. The horse’s previous trainer testifies about the stallion: “Tomas T carries himself with great pride and presence.”

As I rode Tomas T, it was clear to me that he was fully on mission and fully present.

The Leadership Lesson for Team Performance

Leaders often find these two dynamics in tension with each other. Like Tomas T, great leaders attend to both. They integrate the practice of mission alongside the practice of presence. Being on mission, Tomas T was full of action, determined and focused on the goal ahead. Being fully present, he was aware, connected and responsive to his team member – me! He had distinguished himself, after all, for his ability to drive high team performance with his rider.

Great leaders are fully on mission and fully present.

Such leaders are able to lead teams with soul, draw out the highest team performance and sustain engagement and team performance.

May we all draw inspiration from Tomas T as we lead!

Questions: How do you practically integrate mission and presence in your leadership? What barriers get in your way? What’s the impact on your team performance? You can leave a comment by clicking here.