| An instance from the life of Moses teaches us about | | | | day. Whether Jethro had past leadership experience is |
| an essential tool for any leader - the art of delegation. | | | | not made clear, but is likely, given the pointed advice he |
| Exodus 18: 13 - 24 (From the King James Version of | | | | gave to Moses. Jethro saw clearly that Moses was |
| the Old Testament) | | | | seeking to do too much, and told him so, "The thing |
| And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat | | | | that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear |
| to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses | | | | away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for |
| from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses' | | | | this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to |
| father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, | | | | perform it thyself alone." |
| What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why | | | | When placed in a leadership position, one has to keep |
| sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by | | | | several factors in mind. There is of course the need to |
| thee from morning unto even? | | | | meet individual wants and needs, but this is a |
| And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the | | | | secondary concern. When leading a group, the needs |
| people come unto me to enquire of God: When they | | | | of the group come first. A leader is committed first to |
| have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge | | | | the group, then to the individuals that comprise its |
| between one and another, and I do make them know | | | | members. Next, a leader must be in a position to lead, |
| the statutes of God, and his laws. | | | | to meet the needs of both the group and its members. |
| And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that | | | | If not, then both of those concerns go unaddressed. |
| thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, | | | | So we see that as a leader, one has to also take care |
| both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing | | | | of oneself. A failure to do so is a failure to care for the |
| is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it | | | | group. These three interests - the needs of the group, |
| thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give | | | | the needs of the leader, and the needs of the |
| thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for | | | | individuals in the group - must be kept in balance. Any |
| the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the | | | | failure to meet these three is a failure to effectively |
| causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them | | | | lead. |
| ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way | | | | Moses had made this same mistake. By focusing on |
| wherein they must walk, and the work that they must | | | | the needs of individual members of the group, the |
| do. | | | | needs of the entire group went unmet. The personal |
| Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able | | | | cost to the leader created a situation that couldn't |
| men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating | | | | sustain itself; eventually, the strain placed on Moses |
| covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers | | | | would be too much. Without their leader, the group, |
| of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, | | | | both as a whole and on an individual level, would be |
| and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all | | | | lost, and would likely fail. |
| seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they | | | | How then can these three important interests be |
| shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall | | | | balanced? Jethro teaches his son-in-law, the answer |
| judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall | | | | to this problem is delegation. Alone, one person cannot |
| bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, | | | | do it all, not for such a large group. There is simply too |
| and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to | | | | much for any one man to do. There needs to be a |
| endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in | | | | clear idea of what role the leader must fill. Moses, |
| peace. | | | | being the prophet of the Hebrew people, was the only |
| So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, | | | | one capable of speaking the will of God to those he |
| and did all that he had said. | | | | led. This was a role he needed to fill. There were other |
| Moses and Delegation | | | | matters that were more mundane in nature that others |
| In ancient history, Moses stands as one of the most | | | | could deal with. Personal disputes, division of labor and |
| influential leaders of the ancient world. Raised as | | | | goods, and the day to day difficulties that arise in any |
| royalty in Egypt, he later became the leader of the | | | | group - these could be taken care of by others. |
| Hebrews who were enslaved by Egypt. Ultimately, | | | | Jethro outlined for Moses a simple hierarchy of |
| Moses led his people from Egypt, and into the | | | | managers - some in charge of groups of ten, then fifty, |
| surrounding wilderness. | | | | some over hundreds, some over thousands. On the |
| From a leadership perspective, Moses had a great | | | | lowest level, individuals were dealt with ten at a time. |
| deal on his plate. He led more than a million people, in | | | | The leader above them had responsibility for five of |
| matters religious, political and even in day to day | | | | those small group leaders. This structure continued |
| activity. Because of his prominent position as a religious | | | | upward to Moses, creating a simple organization, but |
| figure, his counsel was sought as a judge in almost all | | | | one perfectly capable of organizing the million or more |
| matters. We read in Exodus 18:13 that "Moses sat to | | | | people that Moses was responsible for. Should a crisis |
| judge the people: and the people stood by Moses | | | | arise that required the involvement of Moses, he was |
| from the morning unto the evening." So many people | | | | free to do so, no longer weighed down by lesser |
| sought his advice that it filled his day completely, | | | | concerns. |
| leaving no room for any other activity, regardless of | | | | In our own lives, delegation can be a powerful tool. As |
| how important. | | | | a coordinated group, people can accomplish great |
| We read further on that Moses did so out of a | | | | things, but it is uncommon for great things to occur |
| perceived obligation. Because he was their prophet, he | | | | without the influence of one who acts as a leader. |
| felt compelled to address every request for his time | | | | Someone must bring the group together and point |
| and attention. This is a common feeling among leaders. | | | | them in the right direction. Someone must coordinate |
| Not wanting to ignore the needs of those they lead, it | | | | the efforts of the group, and must keep things running |
| is easy for new or inexperienced leaders to be | | | | smoothly. You can be that leader, but to do so, you |
| overwhelmed by the demands placed upon them, and | | | | need to realize you cannot do everything. Let others |
| to try to do too much themselves. | | | | assist you, and you will find yourself doing so much |
| Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, watched all of this one | | | | more. |