Chapter45

Case Studies in Biblical Leaders

Joel 3:14, NKJV

You can judge a leader by the size of the problem he tackles. People nearly always pick a problem their own size, and ignore or leave to others the bigger or smaller ones.

Anthony Jay

One of the prime responsibilities of leaders is decision making.

Decision-making leaders are leaders who solve problems by making good decisions the result in lasting solutions.

One key to leadership credibility is how well leaders resolve problems, especially in times of adversity.

There are many different styles of decision making: Collaborative Decisions

Seeks consensus

Engages in dialog

Values gifts of others

Advantages: buy-in, multiple perspectives, can create synergy and cohesiveness

Disadvantage: takes time, can create conflict

There are many different styles of decision making: Negotiated Decisions

ContractingMediationAdvantages: can result in an acceptable compromise, and can produce positive resultsDisadvantage: can create an adversarial relationship between parties

There are many different styles of decision making: Executive Decisions

Unilateral

Consultative

Delegated

Advantages: can be quicker, freedom of the executive to seek input from specialists outside the organization

Disadvantages: can be arbitrary, dictatorial, and uninformed

There are many different styles of decision making: Rule-Based Decisions

By the bookObjective standardAdvantages: it can quell conflict, it can be quick and effective, it is consistentDisadvantages: it can be unyielding to extenuating circumstances, it can remove the potential for a better option

Victor Vroom, Yale University

To tell the dream or not to tell the dream (Gen. 37)

A slave in Potiphar’s house – serve faithfully or not (Gen. 39)

The seduction of Potiphar’s wife – to give in or not to give in (Gen. 39)

A prisoner – to help others or not to help others (Gen. 40)

Pharaoh’s dreams – to interpret or not (Gen. 41)

The coming famine – to help or not to help (Gen. 41)

The bothers of Joseph show up – to punish or to forgive (Gen. 42-45)

Joseph’s decisions were guided by his core values and his relationship with God.

There is a spiritual side to decisions:

Do they reflect faith and trust in God?

Have we sought God’s guidance?

Do we have peace about the decision?

Have we applied the Golden Rule?

One of the best lessons for making good decisions is making bad decisions – if we learn from our mistakes.

Making good decisions:

Begins with an awareness of the problem

Requires that the problems have identified and defined

Gather the facts –

1. What factors caused the problem?

2. How could this problem be redefined?

3. What assumptions are at work?

Making good decisions:

Look for the best decision rather than the right decision – analyze but also pay attention to feelings. Does it “feel” right?

Choose the best potential solution from the creative options available.

Implement the decision and make it work.

Review and adjust as necessary.

“The wrong decision at the wrong time is a disaster. The wrong decision at the right time is a mistake. The right decision at the wrong time is not acceptable. The right decision at the right time leads to success.”

Joseph was very strategic in his approach with his brothers. He was attempting to discover their character and their true nature before revealing himself to them.

https://youtu.be/4vQYLlGjBkw

Case Studies in Biblical Leaders

“One of the reasons why things aren’t going according to plan is because there never was a plan.”

Ashleigh Brilliant

Joseph modeled how to lead a country during an economic boom because he developed a strategic plan that prepared the country for the inevitable downturn in the economy.

Strategic leaders are important to the success of any organization.

Mark Twain “The secret to getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting on the first one.”

Is it possible to have a strategic plan, and still claim to be trusting God?

It is “spiritual” for a pastor to plan ahead for an entire year’s worth of sermons?

Are we trusting God if we predetermine our goals and the methods we intend to use to achieve them?

Does God plan ahead?

Effective planning is first the result of clear goals, the reason for planning.

Joseph had foresight into the likely future of Egypt from the dreams.

Joseph understood strategic leadership begins with a clear vision of what God is doing.

Joseph then had to develop a plan to address the problem facing Egypt.

The best plans are of little effect if those people with authority to implement them are not convinced. Joseph was effective in “selling” his plan to Pharaoh.

Gen. 41:37 “So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.”

Joseph was given the authority to implement his plan. Pharaoh knew when to delegate.

The problem: A seven year famine would follow seven years of plenty.

The plan: Store up excess food during the years of plenty, to provide during the years of famine.

Was this a good plan?

Do modern governments follow this plan?

John Wesley “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all times you can, to all the people you can, for as long as you can.”

Proverbs 21:5

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of

everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.”

The first challenge is to project the future, this is sometimes called forecasting. Planning implies certain expectations about future contexts and outcomes.

Based upon future expectations, the next step involves establishing objectives. It involves priorities.

Next develop policies that will help you achieve your objectives.

The next step in the process of developing a strategic plan involves developing programs to accomplish your objectives, that is establishing the sequence and priority of steps in reaching the goal.

Finally, one must budget adequate resources for the task. No matter how great an idea is, it will not be pursued if there are no funds in the budget to pay for it.

https://youtu.be/sU3FLxnDv_A