Wise leaders create an environment where advisors are encouraged to give their input and feel free to enter into dialog even when their counsel is unpopular. Read Proverbs 11:14.

Effective leaders legitimize, encourage and utilize trusted advisors as they make decisions. These advisors add value to the leadership of the organization. This “inner circle” of counselors is so important that according to verse 14 without them a nation (business/ministry) will fail and with them victory is sure. Read more »

Wise leaders learn how to communicate with their team rather than just speak to their team. Read Job 16:2.

Job’s three friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar boldly told Job he had suffered the loss of his possessions, family and health because he had acted foolishly, spoke wrongly and lived wickedly. In Job 16:2 Job calls them “…miserable comforters.” When they spoke from their beliefs without the facts of the specific situation Job felt like their long-winded speeches would never end. These men became speakers rather than communicators. A few differences between leaders who are speakers and communicators: Read more »

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 »