Lessons in Leading

I’ve been working my way through the book of Deuteronomy. There is a lot to digest. Many details have been jumping out to me in new ways that I don’t remember reading previously.?In one such passage, as I was reading and praying, it was like a business & leadership class broke out right in front of my eyes.?The Bible has so much to teach us.?If we let it.

Below is one passage showing the verses in lower case, and my commentary in upper case.

Deuteronomy 1:9-18 (NLT)

Moses Appoints Leaders from Each Tribe

9?Moses continued, “At that time, I told you, ‘You are too great a burden for me to carry all by myself.?

NO LEADER CAN LEAD ALONE. THEY NEED HELP.?A TEAM IS REQUIRED TO CARRY THE LOAD. I'M THANKFUL FOR THE TEAM I AM A PART OF.?I SERVE ALONGSIDE THEM. ONLY A TEAM EFFORT CAN EFFECTIVELY LEAD.

10?The?Lord?your God has increased your population, making you as numerous as the stars!?11?And may the?Lord, the God of your ancestors, multiply you a thousand times more and bless you as he promised!?

GOD IS PROVIDER. GOD IS SOVEREIGN. I AM THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THE LORD PROVIDES.?HE IS JEHOVAH JIRED – THE LORD WHO PROVIDES. EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIVE COMES FROM HIM. I TRY TO BE INTENTIONAL TO GIVE HIM CREDIT AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.?SUCCESS AND FAVOR COMES FROM HIM.?I CONTINUALLY PRAY THAT HE WILL IMPRESS ON ME THE NEED TO LEAD WITH HUMILITY.

12?But you are such a heavy load to carry! How can I deal with all your problems and bickering??

I LOVE THIS HONEST DOSE OF REALITY! LEADING A COMPANY IS HARD.?AT TIMES, IT TRULY IS A HEAVY LOAD TO CARRY. I CARE ABOUT MY TEAM AS A SHEPHERD DOES.?I’M NOT SOMEONE WHO CAN LEAD WITHOUT EMOTION. I TRY TO KNOW THE FLOCK. I WANT TO HELP THEM PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.?I WANT THEM TO THRIVE. WHEN THERE ARE PROBLEMS OR BICKERING OR CONFLICT, IT WEIGHS HEAVY ON THE LEADER.

13?Choose some well-respected men from each tribe who are known for their wisdom and understanding, and I will appoint them as your leaders.’

MANY YEARS AGO, I SET IN MOTION A STRATEGIC PLAN TO APPOINT LEADERS WITHIN MY CIRCLE. I AM THANKFUL FOR THE STRONG LEADERS GOD HAS BROUGHT INTO MY LIFE AND INTO OUR TEAMS.?I AM SURROUNDED BY MANY PEOPLE MUCH SMARTER THAN ME. THEY EACH LEAD VARIOUS SMALLER TEAMS.?TOGETHER, WE LEAD THE LARGER TEAM.

14?“Then you responded, ‘Your plan is a good one.’?15?So I took the wise and respected men you had selected from your tribes and appointed them to serve as judges and officials over you. Some were responsible for a thousand people, some for a hundred, some for fifty, and some for ten.

EVERY COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION NEEDS MULTIPLE LEVELS OF LEADERS.?AS LEADER, I MUST HONOR AND RESPECT THE LEADERS WE HAVE APPOINTED.?I MUST SUPPORT THEIR DECISIONS AND NOT UNDERMINE THEIR AUTHORITY.?LEADERSHIP MUST BE PRESENT AT MULTIPLE LEVELS. ?LEADERSHIP NEEDS TO REACH DEEPER THAN SOLELY A PRESIDENT OR AN OWNER. “LEADER” IS NOT JUST A TITLE. IT IS AN ATTITUDE, A DETERMINATION, A FOCUS, AND A DISCIPLINE.?MANY AMAZING LEADERS DO NOT HAVE "LEADER" IN THEIR JOB TITLE.??

16?“At that time I instructed the judges, ‘You must hear the cases of your fellow Israelites and the foreigners living among you. Be perfectly fair in your decisions?17?and impartial in your judgments. Hear the cases of those who are poor as well as those who are rich.?

DECISIONS, CONVERSATIONS, AND CONFLICT WITHIN A COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE HANDLED AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL.?EVERY DEPARTMENT LEADER, MANAGER, SUPERVISOR, SHOULD BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE.?PEOPLE MUST HAVE A CLEAR PATH TO EXPRESS THEIR VOICE, AND KNOW THAT THEIR VOICE IS HEARD.?ONCE THEIR VOICE HAS BEEN HEARD, THE LEADERS SHOULD BE FAIR IN MAKING A DECISION OR JUDGEMENT, AND THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ACCEPTING OF THE DECISION.?NOT EVERY CASE NEEDS BROUGHT TO THE TOP.?EVERY TOPIC DOES NOT NEED TO INVOLVE EVERY PERSON.?KEEP THE TOPIC FOCUSED TO RELEVANT PEOPLE.

Don’t be afraid of anyone’s anger, for the decision you make is God’s decision.?

EVEN IF UNCOMFORTABLE, DO NOT FEAR CONFLICT.?FACE IT.?WORK THROUGH IT.?ATTACK THE PROBLEM, NOT THE PERSON. SEEK GOD'S DISCERNMENT AND WISDOM.?HOLD TO THAT.?AS CLARITY IS GAINED, THE TEAM CAN BE SECURE AND CONFIDENT TO MOVE FORWARD.

Bring me any cases that are too difficult for you, and I will handle them.’

A LEADER SHOULD NOT ISOLATE THEMSELVES.?I CANNOT HIDE IN AN OFFICE, OR AT MY HOME, OR BEHIND EMAIL, OR TEXTING. I MUST BE ACCESSIBLE FOR FACE TO FACE QUALITY TIME WITH MY TEAMMATES WHEN NEEDED. I AM A LEADER.?FOR SOME REASON, I’VE BEEN PUT IN A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP. I WILL USE MY TALENTS AND EXPERIENCE TO STEP IN AND HELP RESOLVE CONFLICT, MAKE DECISIONS.

18?“At that time I gave you instructions about everything you were to do.

TEAMS NEED CLEAR DIRECTION.?THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM ME OFTEN. I SHOULD INTENTIONALLY OVER COMMUNICATE.?I WILL STATE THE VISION, AND THEN RE-STATE IT.?ONCE IT IS UNDERSTOOD, WE AS LEADERSHIP KEEP IT FRONT OF THE TEAM AND REPEAT THE VISION OFTEN.