Effective leaders understand the need for the constant restatement of goals and core values. Read 2 Chronicles 17.

King Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king of Judah and reigned in Jerusalem for 25 years. Jehoshaphat desired to be a leader that led a nation that honored the laws and moral code of the one true God not just in his palace but every part of the nation under his rule. In a day when the communication and transportation options were limited it would be difficult to see how a leader would quickly turn around not just people’s observance of an external set of laws but the internal value system they chose to live by.

In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat appointed several officials and priests to teach the Book of the Laws of God to the people in every part of Judah. They went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. The result – not only did the people of Judah adopt God’s code of physical and moral conduct but “The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat” (v. 10).

A few things leaders can learn from Jehoshaphat’s leadership:

• Jehoshaphat had a fixed set of criterion that was taught and re-taught. Effective leaders don’t change the standards with every new wind from society. Choose a set of standards (core values) that are above the whims of society that will out last the latest politically correct understandings. For example, how you treat your employees probably won’t be affected by the latest views in society on discrimination if your team lives by Proverbs 16:11-12 (tlb), “The Lord demands fairness in every business deal. He established the principle. It is a horrible thing for a king (the leader) to do evil. His right to rule (to lead) depends on fairness.”
• Jehoshaphat hand selected the team that would convey the message he wanted delivered. Wise leaders carefully select the team to convey their goals and core values. The words of a teacher conducting a seminar on moral conduct would likely be ignored if someone saw them viewing pornography during a break. Proverbs 13:17 (tlb) says, “An unreliable messenger can cause a lot of trouble. Reliable communication permits progress.”
• Jehoshaphat did not depend on an ad campaign or bulletins from the home office to communicate a critical message. He sent a team to “…all the towns of Judah and taught the people.” Effective leaders demonstrate the importance of the message by the way the message is delivered. Proverbs 16:23 (tlb) says, “From a wise mind comes careful and persuasive speech.”

Have you developed a way to constantly restate your leadership goals and core values to those in your sphere of influence? Do you have a few (five to ten) core values that are in writing and posted so your team knows your core truths?

Tags: Goals