The Leadership ChallengeSample

Challenge 27

NEHEMIAH: ORGANZING THE WORK

READ: Nehemiah 3:6–32

So far, we have witnessed Nehemiah’s ability to analyze the task, plan an approach for completing it, cast a motivating vision of the future, and create a collaborative spirit. These are all critical skills, but successful mission accomplishment also requires the ability to organize a team. Such organization included defining both tasks and responsibilities, assigning authority, and clarifying relationships among the team. In our text, Nehemiah does exactly that. We have a list of clear project boundaries and specific tasks accomplished by specific groups of people. Being organized does a number of things for Nehemiah and his great project. Organization helps him streamline the work, reduce friction between team members, and use resources effectively. Whether the task is personal or corporate, small or large, organizing is important to success. I once had a subordinate whose desk was stacked so high that I expected someday to find him on the floor smothered by a collapsed mountain of paper. Although he seemed to know where everything was located, I am certain a little organization would have made him more effective.

How does Nehemiah organize his team for collaboration in our text? How might you become better organized in your own work?