YouVersion Logo
Search Icon

Leadership Lessons From NehemiahSample

Leadership Lessons From Nehemiah

DAY 8 OF 10

Day 8: Data Informed 

I believe far too many Christians oversimplify the story of Nehemiah as "rebuilt 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 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 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 the 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.

Day 7Day 9

About this Plan

Leadership Lessons From Nehemiah

Nehemiah was a visionary leader, innovator, and statesman. I believe that the Book of Nehemiah is as good an entrepreneur’s case study as any I use in the classes I teach at Carnegie Mellon. It offers lessons in leadership on par with well-documented examples of exemplary leadership from modern CEOs. Over the course of this 10-day study, we are going to learn by studying the life of Nehemiah.

More

We would like to thank Sean Ammirati for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://www.seanammirati.com/