The Bible For Leaders - Nehemiah's Habits To Overcome Distractions

One key essential for every great leader is learning how to defeat distractions. In this technology age, distractions are plentiful and increasing daily. Cell phones are always by the side of the leader and can go off without notice making the leader aware of current problems, potential problems, or people problems.

The incredible deep thinker A.W. Tozer once wrote, "distractions must be conquered, or they will conquer us. So let us cultivate simplicity; let us walk in the Spirit. The candid Winston Churchill once said, "you will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks."

Leaders that master how to defeat distractions practice simple, but profound principles that keep them focused and on task. One such leader was a servant leader named Nehemiah. In chapter six of the book Nehemiah, Nehemiah faced many distractions that would stop him from completing the rebuild of the wall of Jerusalem. However, in spite of his distractions, Nehemiah was able to complete the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem in just 52 days. Let's examine the intense focus that Nehemiah summoned to defeat the distractions that could have sabotage the success of his project.

Distraction Defeater #1 - Believe that your work is Great and Significant

Nehemiah had almost finished the wall, and he received a message to schedule a meeting. The meeting was a distraction. Nehemiah response is amazingly helpful. He states in verse 3,  "so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” In other words, Nehemiah believed that finishing his work was the most important task of the day. There is an old leadership adage that says, "if you don't build your dreams, someone else will hire you to build theirs."

Leadership Question: Do you believe that your tasks are the most important tasks of the day?

Distraction Defeater #2 - Do Not Waste Time Fighting Battles That Don't Exist

Nehemiah's distractors continued. Five different times his enemies continued to ask for a meeting with Nehemiah. They even conquered up rumors and falsehoods, and they ask Nehemiah to come and dispel the rumors with the hopes that it would stop his progress. In verse 8 of chapter six Nehemiah responds with this insightful truth, "I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” In other words, Nehemiah made a decision that he would not waste time fighting battles that did not exist. His enemies were trying to attack the mind. They wanted Nehemiah to become worried. They knew that if he would get distracted about the possibilities of what if, then the wall would not be completed. One major time waster that many leaders give into is fighting battles that don't exist. 

Leadership Question: Are you wasting time on tasks and issues that are not essential to your goal?

Distraction Defeater #3 - Be Passionate About That Which Keeps You Strong

In the midst of Nehemiah's distractions, he had the discipline and habit of turning to his God in prayer. His relationship with God is what strengthened him. In verse 9 the Bible records these words, "They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah finds strength in praying to God. Nehemiah is an example of a good leadership lesson. To overcome distractions we have to find the source of strength. Steven Covey reminds us that, "it's easy to say no when there's a deeper yes burning inside." 

Leadership Question: Do you know where you find strength and the power to say no so you can work on your deeper yes?

Distraction Defeater #4 - Set Bold and Healthy Boundaries

Nehemiah continued to face distractions. The next distraction came a personal threat to stop the work, or he would be killed. He was encouraged to go to the Temple for protection and yet he responds to this distraction with these words in verse eleven. "But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” Nehemiah was able to say no others because he had already decided that he would finish the wall. He set healthy boundaries that would keep him focused and on task. Leaders today need healthy boundaries to accomplish great works. Leaders need boundaries around their schedules, their email and phones, and around their personal habits.  

Leadership Question: Do you have a list of healthy boundaries that will keep your distractions in place and free you to focus on that which matters most to your organization?

Distraction Defeater #5 - Remain accountable to others and God

Nehemiah understood that he was a steward of the wall that God had given him to build. He was going to be accountable to God as to whether he finished the work or not. Finally in verse 15 and 16 Nehemiah six records, "So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God." Here is a real secret. Nehemiah knew that it was not him that was building the wall - it was God. God was just using Nehemiah at the time. This fact is what helped him to stay accountable to finish the task. Sometimes we just need others to help us to stay true to the task at hand. 

Leadership Question: Are you accountable to anyone for your most important and essential tasks?

The Bible is a great leadership tool book. Nehemiah six is filled with the important aspects on how to defeat distractions and complete the necessary tasks of our lives. Every leader has a wall to build. Every leader will be distracted, but the leaders who will accomplish much will overcome their distractions to complete the wall. I believe that the saddest words that leader could ever hear would, "he almost finished." Don't leave your leadership undone. Complete the tasks that only you can fulfill and build your wall. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Ken Gosnell serves as the CEO of the C12 Group Maryland, the largest Christian CEO Roundtable in the United States. He has worked with hundreds of corporate and nonprofit CEOS and their leadership teams to enhance their strategic, operational and people accomplishments. He is a leader, writer, coach, and strategic partner with CEOs. He is married to Shonda, and they have four children. You can find out more about the C12 Group at www.c12group.com