Wise leaders seek more than knowledge, they seek understanding. Read Daniel 8 and then re-read verses 15, 17, and 27.

Daniel was chosen by God to receive information about the future that he would pass on to all future generations. John Maxwell, in The Maxwell Leadership Bible addresses this issue in his notes on chapter eight:

There is only one leader with absolute power and influence. Read Daniel 7:9-14.

Daniel had a dream that was a revelation from God concerning future events. The vision underscores the temporary nature of human power and earthly kingdoms. In verses 13 and 14 when “One like the Son of Man” was given “…authority, glory, and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel received a revelation that the One True God has authority over nature and nations. He is able to change time and seasons, He establishes one king and deposes another. He saw that God’s power and influence are absolute.

Effective leaders know how to make a decision they can live with. Read Daniel 6:1-10.

While Daniel was serving as an administrator in the government of King Darius, some of his contemporaries developed a plan that would have Daniel violate a direct order from the king and get him removed from office. Knowing Daniel faithfully faced in the direction of Jerusalem and prayed to the One True God three times a day, leaders who wanted Daniel’s position and power got the king to make a law that made it illegal to worship anyone but him for a month. Daniel was faced with a decision, continue a life of honoring God or yield the practice for 30 days to save his life. Daniel decided to live by his life principles no matter the consequences.

A leader’s integrity is obvious to those who know them. Read Daniel 6:1-5.

Daniel had served faithfully and with integrity as an advisor to Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar of Babylon and after the fall of Babylon to King Darius of the Medo-Persian Empire. Darius saw immediately that Daniel was a gifted leader and appointed him as one of the three administrators that ran the nation and protected Darius’ interests. Darius was about to promote Daniel to the chief of the administrators and this generated significant jealousy among the other leaders in Babylon. They determined to find the dirt on Daniel so they could get him out of Darius’ government. Interesting that in verses 4-5 “They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” Now that is integrity!

Effective leaders learn from the mistakes and victories of those who have gone before them. Read Daniel 5:22-24.

Belshazzar was the son of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He had either watched his father or heard the story of his father’s great conquests and great failures. Nebuchadnezzar had even put some of the great lessons of his life in writing. One of the experiences that changed Nebuchadnezzar was the seven years he spent with a mental illness that had him living in the fields with the animals and eating grass like the animals. God humbled him because of his excessive pride. In Daniel 4:37 he writes, “Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”