Nehemiah Exercised Servant-leadership. He led by serving and not by lording or exploiting the people. In serving others, a leader can either be: a) Taker - someone who takes and receives; b) Trader - someone who received and then gives (relationship as an exchange - I scratch your back; or c) an Investor - one who gives first and then received if something is offered.^[1] Nehemiah as a servant-leader was an investor. The rebuilding of the walls had no benefits for him. He was living happily in Susa far away from Jerusalem. If he did nothing, no one would blame him. However, he decided to do for a greater cause - the good of the people and for glory of God and he was willing to pay the price of sacrifice and selfless service.

If you want to be a leader, you must be willing to pay a price. By sacrificing you demonstrate that you are not in it for yourself. This sends the message, loud and clear, that you have the best interests of others at heart (Kouzes & Posner 2006:18).

How Did Nehemiah Exercise Servant-Leadership?^[2]

Nehemiah proved himself to be a loyal servant of God and a servant-leader of God's people. In the end, what differentiates a great leader form a good leader is the desire to serve others. Nehemiah became a great leader because he was a servant-leader. Here the words of Jesus Christ come to mind: 

So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45).

（picture from the Internet）

In sum, we can say that Nehemiah exercised successful leadership because he planned purposefully, prepared prayerfully, proceeded positively and pursued persistently resulting in the people having a "a mind to work, a heart to pray, and an eye to watch".

Effective Leadership in a Nutshell

• It begins with a "holy discontent" (to borrow Bill Hybels' phrase) — seeing something needs to be done and doing it.
• It is driven by a vision fueled by passion to get things done. It focuses on objectives and not obstacles.
• Its theological motivation is driven by — "for the good of the people" and “for the glory of God's Name".
• Its involvement in any project is stamped with "divine favor" (2:8b). However much we plan and organize, if God's favor is not upon it, it is doomed to fail (cf. Psa 127:1).
• It is undergirded by prayer in all of its activities and situations however difficult and discouraging they may be. First response to opposition is prayer. Prayer is always the first resource and not last resort. It should be specific and not vague (cf. 6:14).
• It maintains an equilibrium between spirituality and practicality (pray and plan, faith and works, etc).
• It practises courageous leadership when the situation warrants it and brings the people back to the Word (Lev 25:35-37; 42) and delivers a rebuke rather than closes an eye or sweeps everything under the carpet. Courageous leadership means doing the right thing and doing things rightly. Nehemiah refused to accept any salary during his twelve years as  the governor of Judah (14-16). On the other hand, he lent money and supplied grain to the poorer people with no interest charged. He regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at his own expense.
• It develops synergy and resonance with the people they lead.
• It leads by example and cultivates loyalty. A leader has no right to ask others to do what he or she is unwilling to do.  Hence, he was able to exert influence on them because of the example set by him. 
• It uses positive and faith-building words to encourage those discouraged and reassures and renews their faith in God.
• It will have people who will seek to hinder and people who seek to help. However, successful leadership learns to trust God to protect them from their detractors.
• It handles opposition or criticism responsibly and spiritually. Instead of over-reacting, it relies on God and prays for justice to be done.   
• It practises the principle of Focus - Doing first thing first. Leadership needs to be focused (having priority) in order get things done and to finish what God calls us to do. It is easy to get distracted in leadership. In effect, Nehemiah was saying, "I have a wall to finish! I must finish the wall!' Compare with what Paul said, "This one thing I do..."
• It does not jump ship when difficulties arise. Instead, it persists on without turning back and refuses to quit nor allows the size of the task or length of completion to stop any projects he/she undertakes.
• It fears God rather than people.
• It chooses and mentors leaders based on their faithfulness and fear of God (7:2) and those who have stood the test of time. ^[3]

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（picture from the Internet）

Courage

Courage isn’t a brilliant dash,
A daring deed in a moment’s flash;
It isn’t an instantaneous thing
Born of despair with a sudden spring
It isn’t a creature of flickered hope
Or the final tug at a slipping rope;
But it’s something deep in the soul of man
That is working always to serve some plan.

Courage isn’t the last resort
In the work of life or the game of sport;
It isn’t a thing that a man can call
At some future time when he’s apt to fall;
If he hasn’t it now, he will have it not
When the strain is great and the pace is hot.
For who would strive for a distant goal
Must always have courage within his soul.

Courage isn’t a dazzling light
That flashes and passes away from sight;
It’s a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait
With the patience to work and the strength to wait.
It’s part of a man when his skies are blue,
It’s part of him when he has work to do.
The brave man never is freed of it.
He has it when there is no need of it.

Courage was never designed for show;
It isn’t a thing that can come and go;
It’s written in victory and defeat
And every trial a man may meet.
It’s part of his hours, his days and his years,
Back of his smiles and behind his tears.
Courage is more than a daring deed:
It’s the breath of life and a strong man’s creed.

-Edgar A. Guest (circa 1916)