5 Steps To Success, Modeled By Nehemiah

1.  Prayerful assessment. Learning Jerusalem was in ruins, Nehemiah’s heart broke. He prayed fervently before approaching the king to ask his blessing to pursue the reconstruction project. After receiving approval, Nehemiah then went to Jerusalem and quietly assessed the damage for three days before taking action. Nehemiah 2:13 states, “So I went out at night…inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire.” If you desire a new project or your team to be successful, start with prayer, then objectively assess the situation.

2.  A compelling vision. For nearly a century and a half, no one had revived the city of Jerusalem; few people believed it was possible, or even necessary. Nehemiah, however, had a much bigger vision. For it to become reality, he needed the locals to catch his vision. He said to the people, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace” (Nehemiah 2:17). If you desire a team to follow you, communicating a compelling vision for the future is crucial.

3.  Find the right leaders for leverage. In those days, the high priest was very powerful. If that leader did not participate, few would follow. Along with the high priest, Nehemiah knew local business leaders would be very influential. With God’s help, he managed not only to engage business leaders in rebuilding certain sections of the wall, but also convinced Eliashib, the high priest, to lead the charge. Nehemiah 3:1 tells us, “Eliashib, the high priest, and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate.” To form a strong team that gets results, recruit and leverage people of influence.

4.  Build collaborative teams. More than 40 sections of the wall around Jerusalem needed repair. Each team could have focused on their piece of the wall, but without collaboration their section would become an island easily toppled. They needed to work together – to accomplish the bigger goal of rebuilding the wall, and to fight off enemies. “From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor” (Nehemiah 4:16). With collaborative teams, Nehemiah overcame opposition. If you desire a strong successful organization, build teams that work together.

5.  Encourage commitment and accountability. When adversity comes, teams either fall apart or become stronger together. A good leader recognizes this and addresses adverse situations accordingly. Nehemiah and his team received multiple death threats; they were understandably scared. Nehemiah was at risk of losing his workers without their strong commitment. He encouraged them by saying, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes” (Nehemiah 4:14). He later encountered internal conflict as well, requiring that he hold his leaders accountable to God’s standards. If you desire a successful project or business, encourage commitment and accountability.

Copyright 2017, Integrity Resource Center, Inc. Adapted with permission from “Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx,” a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. To learn more about Integrity Resource Center or to sign up for Rick’s daily Integrity Moments, visitwww.integrityresource.org. His new book, Unconventional Business, provides “Five Keys to Growing a Business God’s Way.”