Woodrow Wilson said, “The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people.” In fact an effective leader encourages their team to tell them what they need to know, not what they want to hear. Read 2 Chronicles 10:1-15.

After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam was the logical choice to become the next king. The people came together from all 12 tribes and were prepared to crown him king and pledge their loyalty but they had a complaint. The taxes were too high and they needed relief. Rehobaom heard what the people said but he did not actually listen to their complaint. His lack of compassion for the people’s situation, his narrow vision, his self-centered focus and his demanding and impatient style told the people that Rehoboam didn’t really listen or understand but only used the information to fortify his pre-determined position. Read more »

A leader’s life is filled with unexpected circumstances and situational twists. Any leader that does not consider a plan “B” as they develop and implement plan “A” is lacking leadership experience or, at a minimum leadership wisdom. Situational leadership is not the easy road. It demands the leader’s careful attention to the current situation and an eye to the potential negative or positive changes to that situation in the near and distant future. Read 1 Chronicles 19:1-20:3

David was a well established king in Israel and had peace or at least non-aggression arrangements with most of the neighboring nations. This situation changed with one neighbor when Nahash, king of the Ammonites, died and his son Hanun succeeded him. David read the new situation and quickly sent a delegation to meet with Hanun to insure his intentions for relations with Israel were the same as his fathers. Read more »

Leaders must be teachable and surround themselves with individuals who are not afraid to give them counsel even when they are not in the mood to receive it. When they do, God is honored. Read 2 Kings 5:1-15.

Naaman was an outstanding military leader and had won the favor and respect of his king and commander in chief. Yet for all his strength and influence, Naaman suffered from the disease of leprosy. When Naaman learned of a Hebrew prophet named Elisha who might be able to help him, he requested and received permission from the king to contact Elisha concerning a miracle healing. Based on his position and his later reaction, his expectations were of some grand healing in the courts of a great man. Read more »

Christian leaders never find what they are looking for when they abandon God in favor of their own interests. Read 1 Kings 22.

The king of Aram had captured and was now governing Ramoth Gilead, a city that was militarily strategic and economically important to both Judah and Israel. Jehoshaphat king of Judah and Ahab King of Israel determined together to take the city back from the king of Aram. Read more »

Every great leader has the ability to relate to their team and people in their sphere of influence. If you want to be a superior leader, you must learn to connect with people. Relational leadership dramatically raises your influence as a leader. Team loyalty requires that you relate with your team through empathy, understanding, truth, fairness, respect, and mutual accountability. If a leader will give of themselves in these areas to their team, their team will be loyal and will follow their leadership anywhere. Ignore the need for connection and your leadership influence will be limited or a disaster. Read 1 Kings 12:1-24.

King Rehoboam had an opportunity to make some reasonable concessions to the people of the nation of Israel in the early days of his leadership that would indicate he understood their situation, empathized with their circumstances and would be fair in his leadership. Even when the previous king’s closest advisers counseled Rehoboam that he could win the people’s hearts forever by lightening their workload and tax burden, he turned a deaf ear to the people’s need. Read more »