Leadership Lessons From NehemiahSample

Day 8: Data Informed 

I believe far too many Christians oversimplify the story of Nehemiah as "rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem." While an amazing feat, rebuilding the wall is only the first 52 days of a 12-year project Nehemiah leads to restore the community in Jerusalem. 

As soon as the wall is complete and the city is secured, Nehemiah turns his attention to restoring the city inside those walls. His next step is to conduct a census not just of the few living inside the city gates but also of the Jewish families who had returned and were living in the surrounding community.

Nehemiah certainly had no idea that, 2,500 years later, this technique would be taught by business professors and authors (including myself.) In my research on startup best practices, I have written about this as "being data-informed not data-driven". While my examples are from leaders at companies like Facebook, Airbnb, Google, and YouTube, the principle is the same. As you start to have success with whatever venture you are working you, you need to measure and monitor the key metrics that are leading indicators of success. Without these metrics, it becomes nearly impossible to ensure you are progressing toward your ultimate vision. 

Four chapters later, after a number of other leadership steps are taken (which we'll talk about in the next few days), you’ll see Nehemiah start moving people back inside the city walls. 

As soon as the wall is complete, however, he takes a census to make sure he understands his community. Nehemiah understood a concept that Peter Drucker would make famous much, much later:

"What gets measured, gets done!"

As you think about the vision God has placed on your heart, it's important to think about how you’ll know you’re succeeding. What metrics will you measure? When you know, start measuring as soon as possible to establish a baseline that you can optimize and improve.