The Nehemiah Principles

August 3, 2010

Learning To Lead In Chaos".

Leadership has it's challenges. Let’s get real, even though we would like to live in an ideal world where cute little bunnies hop happily down the street, flowers and sunshine fall gently from the sky and, no child is ever left behind, it just ain’t so. Life happens! The truth is, we live in a fallen world, full of drama, unexpected failures, hatred, racism, selfish self-seeking people and wickedness of every kind. Being a leader, in the midst of a world like this often means leading people through one crisis to another.

This constant stress in leadership will either make us or break us. Some call it the “crucible” where the dross of our life is burned off; others call it a defining moment. I just call it par for the course. Living in a fallen world has baggage. Anyone seeking to be in a position of leadership should never be surprised by the chaos that surrounds them, especially if you are in a growing organization. Some of the chaos we cause, and the rest just happens whether we are ready for it or not.

Nehemiah was a slave to the king of Persia during the reign of Artaxerxes I around 445 B.C. He was the royal food taster for the king. (Not someone you would think of as a natural leader!) He is not a man you would chose to be on the cover of Forbes 500 or “Man of the Year”. He was a humble, simple slave who served in the place of the king of a nation that had conquered his own. So, why take leadership tips from an expendable slave with seemingly no future? Because Nehemiah actually accomplished something extraordinary.

Through a series of I would call miraculous events, Nehemiah was allowed to leave the palace and return to his people in Jerusalem. He was thrust into the most chaotic environment imaginable and would ultimately accomplish the impossible. He was able to cast a vision for a new future, create enormous buy-in, organize an effective work force and generate a culture of “Can-do” that would encourage and calm a frightened group of people. He was able to turn around a bad situation and within fifty-two days do something that other had not been able to do in decades.

In my opinion, that is something worth investigating. Nehemiah, a lowly salve to a conquering king, became a great leader. Whether you are leading a corporation, small business, or a non-profit organization, the principles learned from this extraordinary leader have enormous value. If taken seriously, I believe these principles have the ability to radically change the way you lead and take you to the next level.

Posted 8/3/2010 in Stephen Gray | 0 Comments - Add Comment