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COMPETENCE. He demonstrated his competence by the way he handled tough situations that arose. In spite of difficulties, he did not lose his bearing as a leader. Neither did he jump ship when the going got tough. While character is important, competence is also important because without skills, he could not have managed or led the people successfully.
One area of competency involves having good communication skills. People need to be informed and challenged constantly in doing God's work. Without the ability to communicate clearly to them, it is difficult to get things done. Successful leaders are effective communicators. It goes without saying that the greater the communication skills, the greater the effectiveness. Part of communication assumes being on the same wavelength with the followers.
There was clarity in his Nehemiah's communication. His communication was clear and the people were able to follow his instruction and implement solutions. He used communication strategies effectively for different occasions as well as the right words for the right occasion. When they were discouraged. he used encouraging words. When the rich took advantage of the poor, he used words of rebuke. When they felt like quitting, he challenged them by using motivational words. On another occasion, Nehemiah reminded them that of “the joy of the Lord was their strength (Neh 8:10). "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" (Prov 25:11).
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CREDIBILITY. It refers to someone whose words and actions are congruent and consistent - say what you mean and mean what you say. What you promise, fulfill it. Nehemiah lived an exemplary life. He did not ask people to do what he was unwilling to do (e.g. dirtying their hands in the rebuilding project). He joined them in their work. He refused to exploit their financial situation. He did not overpromise (telling them when the task could be completed) but delivered what he had promised the people. Nehemiah "never distanced himself from his people by eating from the governor's allowance; he didn't levy heavy taxes; he stayed committed to hands-on construction; and he refused to buy real estate, unlike previous governors"[1] As a result, the people were willing to work with him and under him because of his credibility which had built trust and trust built relationship. It is a good reminder to know that "People buy into the leader before they buy his plans".[2] A leader's good track record helps to build credibility.
No competent leader is going to be anxious to impress people with his credentials. Leaders who are truly able are qualified because of their character. They are easily identified, not by letters of commendation, but because of the influence they have on others (MacArthur 2004:103)
COURAGE. He had the courage to challenge and confront the people. A leader will "never do anything worthwhile without courage" (James Allen). What is courage? It has been described as "doing the unpopular to accomplish the unforgettable!" In this context, it is the willingness to do the right thing and do things rightly. When the people were discouraged, he encouraged them. When they did wrong, he rebuked them.
He who loses wealth loses much;
He who loses a friend loses more;
But he that loses courage loses all (Miguel de Cervantes).
Why is courage important in successful leadership? Several reasons may be given: a) courage is contagious; b) without courage, it doesn't matter how good a leader's intentions are; c) only courage allows a leader to do what he or she is afraid of doing; d) without courage we are slaves of our own insecurity and possessiveness; e) if the leader lacks courage, the people will lack commitment; f) a leader without courage will never let go of the familiar; and g) lack of courage will eventually sabotage a leader. [3]
Another aspect of courage has to do with the being human - to recognize human limitation. The words "human" and "humble” come from the same root word – earth! This means leaders are not supermen or superwomen but human beings who will make mistakes. When that happens, they must have the courage to admit them and to own up.
The higher a leader climbs, the harder it is for him/her to admit mistakes. The three hardest words to utter for a leader is "I am sorry" or "I was wrong" because of our egos. Instead of trying to justify, rationalize, they should admit them and ask for forgiveness. People are more forgiving than we give them credit for.
In sum courageous leadership involves the willingness to confront the wrong doings of others as well the courage to confess one's own mistakes.
CONNECTION. Nehemiah connected well with the people emotionally and spiritually by identifying with them and caring for their welfare. He appealed to their dignity, identity and responsibility as God's people. His connection with the people led them to cooperate with him. He was able to convince them to "come along because he was first of all able to get along with them" (John Maxwell). It bears repeating that without the people's cooperation, his most brilliant plan of rebuilding however exciting or feasible could not have been achieved.
Leaders need to be reminded once in a while that they are in the People business. People are our "appreciable assets". There is a need to treat people under our charge with respect, equality and dignity. The walls were completed successfully because He won the "people's hearts” before "winning their hands" (cf. 2:17-18).
PRAYER. Undergirding everything he did was prayer which occupied a central place in Operation Rebuilding. He learned to solve problems- be it personal, relational or situational via prayers. "The prayer of Nehemiah 1:5-11 is a blending of reverence, confession, contrition, and confidence. He held God to his covenant and to his plighted Word as a reason to grant him success in his approach to the king for permission to rebuild Jerusalem walls. He saw clearly that if the city was to be restored as the center of life and worship, this was the first essential" (Sanders 1989:119).
Let us study the prayer of Nehemiah in chapter 1:5-11.[4]
Nehemiah gave top priority to prayer. He took prayer seriously. He prayed for four months before he took action.
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What energised him to maintain the momentum in the rebuilding? What galvanised him to persist in spite of obstacles and opposition? One word - prayer. He believed in the power of prayer. That is why he put much emphasis on it because he believed God answered and worked through prayers. The word "heard" punctuated the narrative in Nehemiah 1-7:3 like a refrain (see 2:19; 4:1; 4:5; 4:15; 6:1; 6:16).[6] He believed that the rebuilding project could only succeed with God's help.
It is possible to move men through God by prayer alone (Hudson Taylor).
Through prayer Nehemiah was given a new perspective on the problem, he was led to re-establish his priorities, and was given a sense of purpose (Cyril Barber 1976: 25).
Too often, we plan our projects and then ask God to bless them; but Nehemiah didn’t make that mistake. He sat down and wept (Neh 1:4), knelt down and prayed, and then stood up and worked because he knew he had the blessing of the lord on what he was doing (Wiersbe 2005: 21)
[Leaders] are people who are confident of their calling, and yet at the same time, they know they are utterly dependent on God as the source of their true power (MacArthur 2004:103).
The winning formula of Nehemiah's successful leadership can be formulated this way:
C + C + C + C + C + C + C = PC
___________
P
Conviction plus Commitment plus Concentration plus Courage plus Credibility plus Courage plus Connection Upon P equal Project Completed.
In sum, under Nehemiah's leadership, they completed Operation Rebuilding successfully. As a leader he made himself available for God to use him in the rebuilding project. As a leader he knew his purpose and let the people through a process.
He was focussed - never lost sight of his goal and the source of his power! He displayed confidence in God when faced with problems and obstacles. His motivation for leading the people in the rebuilding project was for the good of the people and for the glory of God. Undergirding everything he did was prayer.
What began as "mission impossible" - the rebuilding of the city walls in spite of opposition, obstacles and discouragement became "mission possible" because God was involved.
Leadership appears glamorous at times, but it is often lonely, thankless, and filled with pressure to compromise values and standards. Nehemiah was able to accomplish a huge task against incredible odds because he learned that there is no success without risk of failure, no reward without hard work, no opportunity without criticism, and no true leadership without trust in God. [7]