The vision of Nehemiah to rebuild the wall required a variety of strengths to accomplish. Nehemiah recognized that he did not have all the strengths needed to accomplish the task—he needed a team. He was a great leader but Nehemiah was not capable of doing all that was needed for the building of the wall and community. This included casting vision, strategic thinking, administration, craftsmanship, technical skills, teaching, etc. Serving leaders recognize that there’s no such thing as a well-rounded leader, but there are well-rounded teams. Nehemiah models how serving leaders build teams based on strengths.   

Serving Leaders Build on Strength by acknowledging different roles    

The physical rebuilding needed people who could carry stones, those who were capable of doing masonry work, others skilled in timber and iron construction for the doors, etc. Beyond the construction of the wall, the story of his leadership also demonstrates a wide variety of tasks and roles including goldsmiths and merchants (3:31), guards (4:16), those who blew the trumpet (4:18), messengers (6:3), musicians (7:1, 12:27), keepers of the storerooms, gatekeepers (7:1; 11:21), leaders in charge of different areas (7:2, 70; 11:1, 11;  12:7-8; 15:16), teachers (8:4-8), temple servants (11:21), and priests and Levites (12:1-7). Nehemiah acknowledged all these roles as necessary for achieving the vision. The people doing menial tasks were as essential to the work as the person blowing the trumpet.  

Some leaders see their leadership role as critical but don’t appreciate the person who answers the phone or the one who cleans the floor. But serving leaders recognize that all tasks, even the menial ones, are vital to accomplishing the vision.  They verbally appreciate the role of each member of the team and acknowledge that the different strengths are all necessary.    

Serving Leaders Build on Strength by aligning work with passion  

In the building of the wall there were certainly times when people worked in areas outside of their strength. The job needed to be done! But Nehemiah also deliberately assigned tasks that would align with passion.  One example, “Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house” (Nehemiah 3:28, NIV). 

Nehemiah strategically placed people to build the wall that was close to their own homes. He knew that they would be more energized to do the work that was near to their heart! He was aligning their work with their passion. Some leaders assign tasks with little thought to whether the person will enjoy doing the work. But serving leaders look not only at ability for a task but passion. They recognize that someone may be very capable of performing a role, but not energized by doing it. Serving leaders look for ability combined with passion.  

Serving Leaders Build on Strength by applauding joint success  

Nehemiah worked hard and the wall was finally completed. Then they celebrated!  

At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres (Nehemiah 12:27). The celebration included two choirs marching around the wall in different directions with sounds that were heard “far away”! Nehemiah applauded the work that the entire community had accomplished.  

Some leaders focus on the work, but never pause to celebrate. Or they focus on an individual accomplishment without acknowledging the work of the team. But serving leaders applaud success and find ways to celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and the team.  

For further reflection and discussion:  

• How well do I know my own strengths and passions? Am I working to focus more of my time and energy on the things I do especially well?  
• Do I see the tasks of each person, especially the menial ones, as vital to the success of our team? What have I done this week to affirm the value that each one brings to our team? 
• When I see someone on my team doing a task well, do I assume that they have passion for that work, or do I inquire about their passion? Ask one or two of them, “If you do this all day long, do you go home energized or drained?” What do I learn from their response? How can I better align my team around passions? 
• How well does our team celebrate success? What have we done recently that should be celebrated? What do I need to do to ensure that we have the celebration?   

• Read the story of Nehemiah and reflect on other ways that he demonstrated this action, Build on Strength. Especially reflect on the story of their celebration in chapter 12. What do you observe from his life and in what way can you follow his example?     

Until next time, yours on the journey, 

Jon Byler 

In the next issue, we’ll examine how Nehemiah’s leadership empowered others and prepared for succession.  

Finally, as a free gift to you, Click Here to download one tool to help you put this action into practice in your organization.  

For more information about The Five Actions of Serving Leadership read the book, The Serving Leader, or visit www.CenterforServingLeadership.com.

All servant leaders can learn to lead with joy from David’s instruction.

Joy should be recognized. David recognized his joy and invited others to join him with singing! The emotion of joy is easier to recognize since it is not usually considered a ‘negative’ or bad emotion. Most people do not struggle to know that they are feeling good!

But David helps servant leaders understand that joy is more than having a good day. He recognizes that joy does not come because of outward circumstances but from a conscious decision to focus on God’s goodness. He says, “In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.” This helps servant leaders recognize that joy can be experienced in any stage of the journey, even in the midst of other conflicting emotions.

Servant leaders learn to experience joy by focusing on God’s goodness in their lives and leadership.

Joy should be revealed. David’s instruction is for everyone to sing and “shout for joy.” Joy is to be expressed, not hidden! Some personalities have no trouble revealing their joy, it is part of their expressive nature. But other personalities are so restrained that even when they are joyful, no one else knows about it!

David invites all leaders to reveal their joy in singing! Songs of praise reveal joy and servant leaders express their joy with singing. But singing also produces joy. So when servant leaders need more joy they also sing!

Servant leaders learn to stop and celebrate, expressing joy and inviting others to join them. Like David, they lead by calling people to sing with joy.

Joy should be restrained. In the midst of David’s expressions of joy he acknowledged that he was waiting on the Lord and requested God to bless them with His “unfailing love.” His expression of joy did not mean denial of the needs which were also present. He did not allow his emotion to overlook reality. Some leaders focus so much on being positive that they do not admit realities.

David showed restraint. Servant leaders recognize the need for self-control in how they allow emotions to impact their leadership. They learn to be vulnerable and express emotions like joy. This allows them to be fully human as they lead, and emotion influences their leadership. But they don’t allow their emotion to control their leadership. They learn to balance feeling and thinking. Before making a decision, they seek to acknowledge their emotions, but they also separate facts from feelings.

Servant leaders are also able to restrain their own joy in order to connect with the emotion of those who are hurting. Servant leaders are aware of and sensitive to the needs of others around them, especially those who may be going through pain or struggle. This may call for some restraint in how they express their joy. But they also serve those who hurt by appropriately expressing their joy and inviting others to sing even in their pain. Gently, by their example of expression and restraint, they invite others to experience joy that is greater than the challenges of life.

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

For further reflection and discussion:

• Read David’s entire chapter, Psalm 33. What additional insights does this give me on the emotion of joy?
• If I am not experiencing joy, is it because I am focused on my circumstances instead of God’s goodness? How can I learn from this Psalm to change my focus?
• Do I easily express my joy or do I find it difficult to reveal this emotion?
• Am I aware of and sensitive to the needs of those I lead who are experiencing pain? Am I most likely to ignore their pain and keep rejoicing, or to silence my own joy?
• If I lead in an environment where singing is not an appropriate or accepted expression of joy, how can I invite the people to express joy?

The wall was finished. Some leaders would quickly move to the next vision. But for Nehemiah it was time to celebrate. At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres….I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. (Nehemiah 12:27, 31) Nehemiah’s celebration was a loud, fun occasion that involved leaders, workers, families, singing, music, and food (yes, they surely ate after the sacrifices were done!). His celebration included two choirs singing on the wall and marching towards each other to meet at a central point for a joint service. Take a moment to read the whole account in Nehemiah 12:27- 43, it will brighten your day! Nehemiah’s celebration is a great example to all servant leaders of both why we celebrate and how to do it well. First, why celebrate?

Celebrations recall.

As we celebrate we remember what was accomplished. We celebrate that the rubble of stones has become a wall we can stand on. We remember the oppositions we overcame along the way and the ways God provided when we despaired of finishing.

Celebrations refresh.

After the weary toil of building a wall, nothing is more refreshing than a hearty celebration. Fatigue gives way to energy. High fives are shared all around!

Celebrations refocus.

Well planned celebrations always bring fresh focus to the lives of people. Even if they had almost forgotten the reason for the days of work in the hot sun, the celebration reminds them of the vision and the goodness of God.

Celebrations reenergize.

One celebration begs for another one. Celebrations cause people to say “What’s the next challenge?” “Where is God calling us now?” People are ready for more, not less! With all that celebrations accomplish it’s no surprise that God loves celebrations and commanded His people to take plenty of days every year to celebrate.

Servant leaders don’t see celebration as a waste of time. Neither do they see celebration as a time to congratulate themselves for a job well done. Instead they recognize that people need to celebrate and God loves celebrations. So they don’t rush from one vision to the next; they pause and make intentional plans to celebrate. From Nehemiah, they learn how to celebrate God’s goodness. .

Celebrations involve everyone.

When it comes to celebrations it’s time to recognize any contribution to the vision however small. Include everyone, even the last person who got on board with the vision! Get the young and the old, those who gave and those who prayed, the masons and the trumpet blowers. Be involved yourself. Nehemiah marched along behind, what a picture of a servant leader!

Celebrations are fun.

What a fun day this must have been, filled with singing and music, food and festivities. Don’t shame God with boring speeches and dry presentations, have fun! If you are not a natural at this get your spouse or someone else to plan the day! Make it a day that people will remember for a long time.

Celebrations focus on the vision.

The genius of Nehemiah’s celebration was the location, the top of the wall! He focused the celebration clearly on the vision. Whenever possible, have your celebration on the site of the victory. If that is not possible, find a way to visually focus the celebration on the vision.

Now, we’ve finished looking at Nehemiah’s great example of leadership and vision…let’s celebrate!

For further reflection and discussion:

• When is the last time you celebrated with your team? Is it time for a celebration? If not now, when will it be time…put it on your calendar today!
• Who on your team would be great to plan your celebration? Who should be included? Make a list of everyone who contributed in any way to the vision, it will certainly be longer than you first think. Don’t forget the families who supported the workers!
• Where will you be at the celebration, at the forefront or smiling from behind? How can you resist the temptation to make this celebration focused on you as the leader?

Victory at last! After leading with courage and persistence and going through all the drama of the 10 plagues Moses finally leads the people out of Egypt. But almost as soon as they left the land of their slavery they were faced with the army of Pharaoh who had changed his mind about releasing his free work force. Soon Moses and the people were trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea with no means of escape. But God performed yet another miracle and opened up the sea for them to cross on dry land. The army of Pharaoh tried to follow them but were all destroyed in the water. After this great victory Moses lead the Israelites in a song of victory and a time of celebration. We can learn from the story in Exodus 15 how to lead with celebration.

Servant leaders initiate celebration.

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD… (Exodus 15:1) We don’t know if Moses was a great singer or musically challenged, but he led the group in a song of celebration. He didn’t delegate the task to the celebration committee; he was on the front line! Leaders with vision often make the mistake of focusing only on the future and what is needed to get there. Moses knew that they were still not in the promised land. Nevertheless, a significant step towards that goal had been reached and he stopped the movement for a time to celebrate. This celebration didn’t cost any money, but it did require a leader to call for time to celebrate. His example challenges us to stop at each significant victory and celebrate. Servant leaders recognize that when God brings success a celebration is in order and they find a way to make it happen. Servant leaders recognize the deep need people have to celebrate and they find ways to make it happen.

Servant leaders celebrate what God has done.

(Exodus 15:1-12) I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. Moses’ celebration focused on what God had done. He resisted the temptation to say, “Did you see what happened when I stretched out my hand over the water?” He focused on God’s work, not his own. Selfish leaders celebrate what they have done, good leaders celebrate what ‘we’ have done; servant leaders celebrate what God has done!

Servant leaders celebrate what God will do.

(Exodus 15:13-18) You will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them. With these words Moses’ song shifts from what God has just done to what He will do. He skillfully uses the time of celebration not only to look back, but to restate the vision of where God is taking them. He reminds the people that there is more in store for them and more victories ahead. Celebrations provide a wonderful opportunity for servant leaders to remind people of the ultimate goal. The celebration of victories provides the encouragement needed to tackle the next challenge or obstacle. Moses likely had no idea about the challenges that he would soon face, but he wisely used this time to build confidence in God’s ability to take them to their final destination.

What has God done for you and the group you lead that you can celebrate today or this week? Sing a song…or at least find a way to celebrate!

The background reading for this issue is: Exodus 14:1-15:21.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Do I lead with celebration or do I consider it a waste of time and resources?
• Have I created a culture of celebration among those I lead?
• Do my celebrations focus on my own achievements, those of our team or on God’s work among us?
• Have I learned to use every celebration to remind people of the vision for our group?
• What can our group do today or this week to celebrate?