The Traits of Effective Leaders - Martin Wiles

The next day, Moses sat as usual to hear the people’s complaints against each other. Exodus 18:13 NLT

The stress of leadership can be overbearing.

I’ve never had people with problems lined up before me from morning until night, but other people’s situations have laden my shoulders. My day has begun by sitting for seven hours with a family whose loved one was undergoing a complicated heart surgery. Then it was off to the shut-in’s house, who needed someone to talk to. After gobbling down a bite of supper, it was off to a leadership team meeting. When I finally plopped down in my recliner at nine p.m., the phone rang. So and so had been in an accident. I was off again.  

Responsibility hounds leadership positions, and Moses had his share. He was responsible for leading more than a million people. Along with providing for their daily needs, he had to listen to their disagreements. Fortunately, his father-in-law gave him some sanity-saving advice.

Effective leaders aren’t afraid to take advice from people who are qualified to give it. Jethro told Moses he couldn’t care for all the people’s needs by himself and then offered him a solution, which Moses accepted.

Effective leaders recognize they can’t do everything and shouldn’t try to. Jethro helped Moses see his unrealistic attempts. Moses’ attempt—while well-intentioned—was impossible.

Effective leaders train and delegate because they know they have limits. Jethro suggested that Moses divide the people into smaller groups. Then he was to find qualified leaders who could listen to the complaints and handle them. Only significant situations would come before Moses.

Effective leaders genuinely care about those they lead. Although Moses had to reorganize his structure of handling disputes, the fact that he tried to handle them demonstrated his concern. Those he led could be aggravating, but he loved them.

Let God show you how to be a more effective leader. Then lead.

Prayer: Father, we acknowledge we cannot effectively lead without Your guidance. Direct us to be loving leaders who guide others as You do us. 

Tweetable: What steps can you take to become a more effective leader? 

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