I have been working on my year 2022, planning, praying, working and hoping. Not only on how to do things myself but also on persons and relationships I need for 2022 and years after. This post is about Leadership Lessons for 2022.
While doing this, I fortuitously stumbled on this writing below by Rick Warren and I feel it will do others a world of good if I share it here.
Please, if you are concerned about achieving things in 2022, and you are planning now, I mean the type of planning that involves you writing in your 2022 diary (go and get one now), this post is a must-read for you.
This is a lesson from the leadership styles of Nehemiah, the man who rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem. Rick did a good job here.
LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
1. THINK IS THROUGH
Nehemiah first talked to the king about rebuilding the wall “in the month of Nissan,” which was four months after God began burdening him about the work.
What had Nehemiah been doing during those four months? He prayed and he planned. When the king asked Nehemiah what he wanted, he didn’t hesitate.
Howard Hendricks said, “Nothing is more profitable than serious thinking, and nothing is more demanding.” Leaders make time for “think time.”
2. PREPARE FOR OPPORTUNITIES
When opportunity knocks, we must be ready to open the door. Life is full of opportunities. There are overlooked opportunities all around us. Often, we’re not ready for them.
Nehemiah was ready. He had been praying for an opportunity to present his idea to the king—and he finally got it. Nehemiah admitted he was scared, but he took the opportunity God put in front of him. Leaders move ahead despite their fears.
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3. ESTABLISH A GOAL
Then Nehemiah shares a specific goal with the king. “And then said to the king, ‘If this pleases the king and if this might be good for your servant who is before you, then would you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs so that I may rebuild it?'” (Neh. 2:5).
You need a target. If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it. Ask yourself three questions as you set the goal: What do I want to be? What do I want to do? What do I want to have?
I encourage you also to set big goals—so big that God must bail you out! Big plans honour God.
Nehemiah was a great example of this. He had never built a wall—or anything else—when he went to Jerusalem to build the wall, but he trusted God for this audacious goal.
4. SET A DEADLINE
Nehemiah set a deadline. The king asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” Nehemiah establishes a specific timeline.
A goal needs a deadline. A goal without a deadline isn’t a goal.
5. ANTICIPATE PROBLEMS
Nehemiah had already asked the king for permission. In 2:7, he asked for protection—a letter he could take with him to provide safe conduct along the way. Nehemiah’s 800-1000-mile journey went through quite a few provinces. People didn’t travel freely in those days. They had to go through proper procedures.
Nehemiah recognized this potential problem and planned for a solution.
As you set out to tackle your goals, make the effort to define what could potentially hold you back.
Managers focus on solving today’s problems, leaders focus on solving tomorrow’s problems. Both are essential roles for any organization, family, business or church, but they are not necessarily the same.
Managers must focus on the day-to-day details. Leaders anticipate problems nobody else thinks about. Then they figure out a way to overcome the problems before they arrive.
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Let me know if you have gained something from this post.
Have you?
