When The Lead Investigator Is Happy...

Yesterday, I was speaking with yet again, another colleague (I have a lot of colleagues!), and shared with her (we'll call her Christine, her real name is Christine), this concept of SMIs. Although I found the term intriguing myself, Christine really enjoyed it and was quite animated. Here, I believe, is why:

1. If you acknowledge someone as an SMI, and you bring them into the investigative team as an SMI and if they embrace the idea of being an SMI, this has great potential to bring an air of fun and light-heartedness to the investigation. In my view, a sense of fun, makes what would otherwise be a tedious investigation, go much faster and more interesting.
2. If the SMI understands clearly their role as such, then they will have the added value of being consciously critical, asking the difficult why's without fear or reservation.
3. If the SMI is comfortable and has fun with their role on the investigative team, then you have clearly established a safe environment for the investigation to take place in.

Actually, all these points are indicative of a safe environment. Christine's animation about the SMI concept, is because she holds these three things in high esteem. She knows the value of a safe environment for an investigation, especially a difficult one.

One of the single most important aspects of an investigation, is that the environment IS safe for all the investigative team members. This allows for a forum where anyone can speak wit hout fear of judgment or repercussions outside the investigation. Especially SMIs. When team members can operate without fear, then ideas and interaction flow freely, accelerating the investigation.

This makes the Lead Investigator very happy. And you know what they say:

When the Lead Investigator is happy, everyone is happy!

(By the way. Today is my son's 20th birthday. He is in Spain and I haven't seen him since February 18th. So here is my message to him: ¡Cumpleaños felices Lorin Douglas! )