Effective leaders create structure that addresses the methods by which resources flow through the organization to accomplish work. Read Numbers 11:1-35.

When Moses couldn’t handle all of the responsibilities of leading Israel, God told him to enlist seventy qualified persons, empower them and allow them to help to carry the burden. Moses was overwhelmed and the people under-served so God took action. The existing system wasn’t working so He changed it. It wasn’t about “who’s the boss”, it was about who would serve the people.

Wise leaders look to God’s example to become effective long range planners. Read Isaiah 37:26.

When Isaiah wrote this verse, Hezekiah was king of Judah, and Assyria was the dominate world power. King Sennacherib of Assyria had captured all the fortified cities of Judah and Jerusalem was under siege. He sent his field commander to King Hezekiah with a message stating, “Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says ‘Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria’…Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my forefathers deliver them…” Hezekiah took Sennacherib’s letter into the temple and spread it out before the Lord and asked God to deliver Israel by defending His own name. In His answer to Hezekiah’s prayer, God indicated His long range plan for the Assyrian king and the Assyrian nation.

Day 1 – The wise leader develops both short range and long range plans. Read Genesis 3:15.

Adam and Eve had made a decision to disobey a direct command from God and eat the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. In their shame, they confessed their sin to God and God pronounced judgment for their act of direct defiance. Some of God’s judgments were fulfilled immediately and some would be fulfilled in the future.

Effective leaders are not aloof but connect with the people in their sphere of influence. Read John 4:1-26.

Do you have trouble connecting with your team? John Maxwell discusses what he calls “The Law of Connection” from this passage where Jesus connects with a woman from Samaria and changes an entire city.

We don’t even know her name. Other Jews wouldn’t even speak with her. Yet because Jesus was different, He spoke with this Samaritan woman – a snubbed gender within a despised race. Through this personal connection, God reached an entire city. We learn at least eight principles from Jesus’ leadership in John 4:

1. Leaders initiate contact (vv1-7). Jesus spoke first. He didn’t isolate Himself even from “undesirables.”
2. Leaders establish common ground (vv. 7-8). He connected with her about a familiar interest: water.
3.  Leaders listen and allow others to speak (v. 9). He knew people like to hear their own voices most of all.
4. Leaders arouse interest (v10-15). Jesus built a verbal bridge by making her thirsty for something more than water.
5. Leaders take others only so far as they are ready to go (vv. 16-19). Jesus knew He mustn’t go too far. He said enough to make her hungry for more.
6. Leaders accept others where they are (vv17, 18). Jesus knew her lifestyle, but never condemned her for it.
7. Leaders stick with the key issues (vv. 20-24). He didn’t allow her to get distracted. He wouldn’t divert the focus from the real issue.
8. Leaders communicate issues directly and simply (vv. 25-26). Jesus revealed His identity in clear and simple terms.

In your everyday leadership style do you tend to avoid people or connect with people? Jesus, the only perfect leader to ever live, modeled a leader that connected – even with a person others avoided at all costs.

Wise leaders use long-term vision to prevent mistakes in short-term decisions. Read Psalm 37.

Israel’s second king, David, had some roller-coaster moments in his life. He was anointed king by Samuel at age 15 but spent the next 15 years with trouble in one form or another perpetrated by Saul, the king in power. Saul sent ruthless men to kill him and even personally tried several times to kill David. When David became king there were times when his own generals, leaders in his army, rebelled against his leadership and even members of his own family let their evil side try to harm their own father. David had numerous life challenges but he did not allow them to drive his long-term decision making.