Moreover, from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor’s food allowance. But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do so because of the fear of God.
Nehemiah 5:14-15
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. As a leader, your behavior is always being observed and evaluated in the ranks. For there to be respect, authenticity and credibility must exist, as they are the currency that increases or reduces your influence. If people are to buy into you as a leader and perform beyond minimum expectations, they must feel you identify with them. Leadership positions often come with perks, rewards, even special treatment not available to employees in the lower ranks. Nehemiah knew his people were struggling, so he passed on the perks that were normally available to a leader in his position. In so doing, his people went above and beyond, finishing the wall-building project in record time.
“If your actions seem to undermine your words, you’ll create problems no amount of jawboning can fix.”
John W. Gardner
REFLECT TO CONNECT
- When you ask others to tighten their belt, do you do the same?
- When you ask others to sacrifice, is your sacrifice visible?
- What examples of leaders asking for one thing then doing another can you give?
For there to be respect, authenticity and credibility must exist, as they are the currency that increases or reduces your influence.
