Leadership is often talked about as an essential quality that separates successful teams from those that struggle. However, becoming a great leader is a complex process that requires a constant effort to learn, grow, and develop new skills. In the context of war, effective leadership can mean the difference between victory and defeat. The story of Moses in Exodus 32:30 provides us with a powerful example of what it means to be a leader in challenging times. Despite the gravity of the situation, Moses did not lose hope or give up on the people of Israel. Instead, he demonstrated his commitment to them by seeking guidance and forgiveness from the Lord. This act of humility provides us with a beautiful example of how true leadership is not about having all the answers but rather about being willing to listen, learn, and adapt to changing circumstances.
“Train even your weaklings to be warriors…”
JOEL 3:9-10 (NLT)
“Say to the nations far and wide: Get ready for war! Call out your best warriors. Let all your fighting men advance for the attack. Hammer your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. TRAIN EVEN YOUR WEAKLINGS TO BE WARRIORS!”
Stepping up and away from your peers is not just a secular concept. Leadership is desired at all levels of an organization, a business, a charity, and even within the church community. This leadership comes in the form of formal and informal teams, groups, structure, and/or relationships. What gives a person the authority to lead? Who gives a person the authority to call themselves a leader? These questions are the reason I decided to get into helping people.
I have asked these questions while working with several organizations over the last two years. No matter the location, the organization, the mission or the level of management the people come from, the answers almost always align. What gives a person the authority to lead? The answers included, but wasn’t limited to: education, knowledge, attitude, insight, seniority, drive, perseverance, and resilience. None of these answers are wrong as they represent the personal values people look for in others they choose to follow. These answers vary and are distinct to what they, as individuals, seek. Who gives a person the authority to call themselves a leader? This, almost always, received one answer: the people who choose to follow.