Issue #56, May 18, 2011
Lights, camera, action! Picture Moses, his staff in hand, striking a dry rock and while the elders watch water gushes out. From there he moves to the battlefield where his extended hands won the victory over the Amalekites. These scenes make Moses look like a great leader getting the job done! But God is preparing him for a major leadership lesson. At the rock, others simply watch. On the battlefield Moses gets tired and realized that he needed the help of Aaron and Hur to win the battle. But it took a visit from Moses’ father-in-law Jethro to teach him that servant leaders learn to delegate. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?…What you are doing is not good.” (Ex. 18:14, 17)
Jethro, with this rebuke, gives Moses a powerful leadership lesson. In spite of the great accomplishments Moses had achieved his leadership was not good because he was doing it alone. Moses was serving the people by attempting to meet their needs. That’s a great servant heart but poor leadership. Servant leaders recognize that the best way to serve others is to empower them to share in the work. Jethro taught Moses that servant leaders are not successful because of the work they do but the way they empower others to work through delegation. What can we learn about delegation from Jethro and Moses?
Delegation happens intentionally.
By default Moses was working hard like many leaders. People were crowding around him with their needs, and he was busy! Servant leaders make a conscious choice to stop doing the work and deliberately focus on delegating. It will never happen by accident.
Delegation lightens the load.
Moses was carrying a huge burden from morning until evening every day. Jethro advised him to share the load with others so that he would be able to stand the strain. (Ex. 18:23) Moses’ leadership would never have lasted for 40 years if he would have continued at the pace he was going. Servant leaders recognize that an integral part of leading is to set a pace that is sustainable and allow others to lighten the load.
Delegation empowers others.
As Moses called capable men to assist in the work, these leaders were able to develop their own potential. Nothing is more empowering to an emerging leader than when a seasoned leader looks them in the eye and says, “I believe you can do this!” Selfish leaders delegate to accomplish their own goals, but servant leaders delegate to empower and develop others. They delight in seeing others grow in their leadership capacity.
Delegation accomplishes the task.
Jethro wisely concluded that when Moses would delegate the work all these people will go home satisfied. (Ex. 18:23) Insecure leaders believe that no one else can do the job as well as they can so they refuse to delegate. Servant leaders recognize that when work is shared, the task will be completed. These leaders realize they are responsible to see that the work is done but not able to do it all alone.
To Moses’ credit, he listened to the wise counsel of Jethro and made immediate changes in his leadership style. Everyone benefited from his change and I expect that his wife and children were excited to see him home for supper that night for the first time in a long time!
The background reading for this issue is: Exodus 17:8-18:27
For further reflection and discussion:
- Do I have a “Jethro” in my life? Do I invite them to speak into my leadership practices?
Evaluate your leadership with the following questions:
- Am I guilty of trying to do all the work myself?
- Can I sustain my pace of leadership for the long term?
- Have I told anyone lately, “I believe you can do this”?
- Reflect on how Moses chose the men to lead. What qualifications did he consider?
- What is my plan to develop others around me? Am I consciously looking for things that others can do which will build them up and help accomplish the vision God has for our group?
- What steps can I take today to delegate?