Almost every Christian knows a thing or two about Nehemiah in the Bible. You can ask us anything about Nehemiah in the Bible or any other character. In case you want a complete summary, it is available here. The character’s story is recorded in the book by the same title. Before being called to rebuild the wall, Nehemiah was a cupbearer in the house of King Artaxerxes. After hearing the disgrace his people endured due to the broken wall, Nehemiah wept and eventually left to rebuild it. From the time he leaves the king’s presence to the completion of the wall, Nehemiah offers some valuable leadership and management lessons, which we can apply to our lives today.
Comfort Zone: Successful leadership starts with leaving the comfort zone
Nehemiah had a chance to remain a cupbearer instead of facing Sanballat and other mocking characters. However, he chose growth by coming out of his comfort zone. Effective leaders do not settle for mediocrity when they can achieve excellence. Leaving the comfort zone starts with seeing your current success as too insignificant. Nehemiah in the Bible was so passionate about rebuilding the wall that even the king noticed. The king asked, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill?” (Neh. 2:2). A leader is ready to grow only when his comfort zone becomes uncomfortable.
Vision: Effective leaders have a clear vision
Before leaving the comfort zone, you, as a leader, should be clear on where you are going. Nehemiah did not just exit the king’s service to go and weep at the destroyed wall; he had a plan to rebuild it. After inspecting the wall, Nehemiah clearly said, “Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem” (Neh.2:17).
Motivation and communication: Good leaders inspire and motivate their followers
It is not enough to have a vision; it must be communicated clearly. Followers must also be motivated accordingly. Motivation involves showing followers how they stand to benefit from a project. In Nehemiah’s case, he told his followers: “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace” (Neh. 2:17). He showed them how they would benefit from the project.
Teamwork and Delegation: Competent leaders know how to delegate
The third chapter explains the roles different groups and individuals played in rebuilding the wall. This is a lesson to any Christian leader to delegate duties according to competence. The fact that Eliashib and others undertook specific responsibilities implies that they were assigned according to their competencies.
Competition: Effective managers use resilience and innovation to handle competition
Sanballat and Tobiah represent the opposing forces determined to sabotage any work. The two characters began taunting Nehemiah before going further to plan physical attacks. Every day, the pair mocked Nehemiah, but the latter continued with the work. However, Nehemiah had to “up the game” by choosing men armed with swords because the saboteurs were determined to attack the workers (Nehemiah 4:9-17). Likewise, leaders should be resilient and innovative enough to respond to the challenges affecting their organizations.
Conflict Resolution: Leaders should solve conflicts fairly and promptly
Nehemiah, like any other leader, faced conflict when some Jews complained against their fellow countrymen who charged them exorbitant interest rates. When Nehemiah heard this, he intervened quickly and rebuked the oppressive Jews. The lesson we learn here is that all conflicts should be solved fairly and quickly to ensure they do not derail a team.
