Issue #82, May 23, 2012
Nehemiah’s vision and plans are good enough to get him out of the king’s palace and on the road to Jerusalem, but he has a major step remaining before work on the wall will begin. He has to communicate his vision to those who will help him with the work. This is one of the most critical elements of implementing a vision but a place where many leaders with great visions falter. The leader that is able to effectively communicate his vision will do far more than the one who has a great vision but doesn’t know how to share it with others.
The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work. Then I said to them, “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.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. (Nehemiah 2:16-18)
We’ll take two issues to learn six principles from Nehemiah about how servant leaders communicate the vision.
Choose the right time.
Nehemiah masterfully selected the right time to share the vision. His vision had first been birthed during his time of prayer and then shaped by the process of planning and sharing with the king. After he traveled to Jerusalem he took a few days to assess the physical realities there and to modify his plan as needed. Nehemiah was wise enough not to make a public announcement before he finished clarifying his vision. All this time he waited for the right time to communicate with the people in Jerusalem. But then he was ready. He called the people together and began to share with them. Just like Nehemiah, servant leaders carefully consider the right time to share the vision. They allow the vision to deeply penetrate their own hearts first and wait until the people have confidence in their leadership before calling for action. They recognize that sometimes the people are not yet ready for the vision and they seek God’s timing before communicating the vision.
Identify the need.
The need for a wall seemed obvious but Nehemiah deliberately points it out to them. “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.” The people had lived with the rubble of the wall for so long that they didn’t see it any more as they daily walked past piles of stones. Nehemiah, like all effective communicators, pointed out the need for action. For servant leaders, the need is not their own personal achievement or gain, but to meet a need of those they are serving. The wall would benefit the people of Jerusalem not Nehemiah. Reflect on the group of persons you serve. What are their needs? Is the vision you are pursuing meeting those needs? Have you communicated those needs to them?
Commit yourself.
Notice what Nehemiah said as he began, “You see the trouble we are in.” He didn’t say, “See the trouble you are in.” He could have easily distanced himself from the problems of the residents of Jerusalem and talked about their problems. But he was there to serve them and chose to be a part of the problem so that he could be a part of the solution. He was committed to their welfare and willing to commit himself to the work. A servant leader is always able to identify with the problem and commit to the appropriate action. Don’t call people to a work that you are not willing to do and don’t lead people where you don’t feel that you also have a need.
For further reflection and discussion:
Is the time right to share your vision? Consider the following questions:
- Have people learned to trust you as a leader? Do they trust your heart? Do they have confidence in your ability to lead?
- Have you internalized the vision? Are you ready to pay the price to carry it out? Has it consumed your thinking?
- Do you have a clear plan in place to carry out the vision?
- Are the people ready? Do they recognize the need? Are they ready to pay the price for the vision? What obstacles will they see when you share the vision? Are there ways in which their own felt needs must be addressed before they can see the need that you identify?
- What need does your vision meet? Is it clear that the vision will serve the needs of others or is it only meeting your own needs? If the need is not clear or if the vision is more about you than others, take more time to clarify the need and sort through your own motives as a leader.
- Have you tried to share a vision in which you did not identify yourself with the problem? What was the result and what did you learn? How does Nehemiah’s example provide direction for you?