Several leadership books talk about establishing momentum. Jim Collins’ book Good to Great helps us picture business momentum as a very heavy flywheel that is very difficult to move at all for the first few turns but as one success stacks on top of another the weight of the flywheel begins to assist the forward motion and the movement of the flywheel is almost self sustaining. In fact in the physical world, it now takes work to stop a flywheel that is in motion. Read Joshua 10:16-43.

As God gives Joshua one military success after another, the Israelite army begins to experience a momentum they could not have described just months before. In the notes in The Maxwell Leadership Bible, John Maxwell calls this The Law of the Big MO. Maxwell states:

Not only did Joshua lack momentum at the beginning of his campaign, he actually faced several barriers to it. Consider his precarious situation:

1. Israel had just lost its founding leader.
2. Joshua had to follow this hero and revered leader.
3. The Israelites had not realized their dream in 40 years.
4. In front of Israel stood a flooding river and countless walled cities.

So what can a leader without momentum do? The answer: Learn from Joshua.

1. Emphasize that moving forward simply reflects obedience to God.
2. Speak of past conquest under God’s direction.
3. Get the people to quickly put some “wins” under their belt.
4. Underscore your own faith in what God has promised.
5. Model courage for everyone.
6. Erect memorials to recall God’s pattern of faithfulness.

By Chapter ten, Joshua is enjoying the law of the Big MO. Israel won victory after victory – and each one made the next one easier to visualize and embrace.

What can you do to either start momentum or sustain it? Do you need some victories? Are there some areas, that if you focused on them, would start a series of wins? Is there a series of victories you need to point to where God’s hand has given you success so your team is reminded of past wins? Effective leaders understand when momentum is flourishing and sustain it and they understand when their team is losing momentum and take actions to bolster it.

Psalm 77:11
I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

Psalm 105:5
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

Tags: Leadership, Momentum, Victory