A must-read for those who must lead

“The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.  Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.  Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.’  I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me.  They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’  So they began this good work.”  Nehemiah 2:16-18

Tucked away on a shelf in the Library of the Bible is a short story titled, “Nehemiah.”  An autobiographical account of the Jerusalem city wall restoration, “Nehemiah” can be found in the “history” aisle.  Pull it down, blow off the dust from its cover, and crack its binding.  For in the pages of this overlooked gem lie one of the best leadership stories you will ever read ... and some of the greatest leadership lessons you will ever glean.

In today’s lesson [Nehemiah 2:11-20 (NIV)], for instance, you will discover patience and discipline in performing a crucial situation analysis ... wisdom in communications timing ... inspiration of graspable, compelling vision ... and strength in declaring truth in the face of opposition.  All of this in just 10 verses!

Here are some other leadership topics you will discover in the story of Nehemiah, each one filled with an engaging blend of conceptual insight and practical application ...

Leadership prerequisite: a heart for God and a heart for people ... Nehemiah 1
Humility, integrity and wisdom before the authorities of this world ... Nehemiah 2
Establishing, tasking and empowering affinity teams ... Nehemiah 3
Responsiveness, readiness, and resolve in resisting opposition ... Nehemiah 4
Deliberation, confrontation and fairness in the face of internal injustice ... Nehemiah 5
Discernment, wisdom and steadfastness in the face of external treachery ... Nehemiah 6
Celebrating success (“... the joy of the Lord is your strength”) ... Nehemiah 7-8
Integrity: confession and repentance at the hearing of God's Word ... Nehemiah 9-10
Restoring God-centered community in the place of ruin ... Nehemiah 11-12
Purity: confronting the evil that inevitably seeks its way back into a revived people ... Nehemiah 13

On display throughout this book is a leader who was first submissive to his God and always proactive before God's people in wisdom, humility, clarity and strength.  There, too, is the proof of true leadership: a people flourishing.  For Nehemiah cared for God’s people in every way: spiritually, mentally and physically; against external opposition and from internal disobedience; in correction and in encouragement; in despair and in celebration.

Prior to Peter Drucker ... millennia before Jim Collins ... when no one had heard of a Clayton Christensen or a Ram Charan or any other leadership guru of our esteem, there was Nehemiah. 

He's a must-read for those who must lead.