Leadership Tips & Training Degrees of Leadership

In my quiet times with the Lord, I have been reading through the book of Nehemiah. The Lord has always been faithful to show me leadership lessons in this book. Today, as I read, it dawned on me that Nehemiah had led the people to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem in just 7 weeks, or in just 6 chapters of the book! I must confess that I am one of those people who goes to the back of a book to see how many pages are left to read, and to possibly figure out how it may all end. So, I did exactly that and noticed that I still had seven more chapters to read before I finished. You mean there was still work to do even though the wall was complete? That was an ah-ha moment! I realized that as leaders, even though we finish one session and “graduate” members, the work is never finished! Just as there are different educational levels or degrees that are pursued to equip one for a life-long career, there are also degrees of leadership that we will attain if we are to lead for a lifetime.

We see different degrees of leadership that Nehemiah pursued in his journey of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. The first degree was complete when Nehemiah accepted the call to lead his people to rebuild the wall. He was chosen and obediently went to work. His first act was to pray. In his prayer he confessed his sins and the sins of those he would lead and asked the Lord to grant him favor as he put a plan into action. Sound familiar? As a new leader in First Place, you were called to begin a ministry that would rebuild lives. You prayed and asked those in leadership if you could proceed with this ministry. You accepted the call and put your plan into action. You completed the first degree of leadership – which is taking the risk to step out in faith and do what God has called you to do.

The second degree of leadership that Nehemiah completed was one of administration. He had to administer his plan by motivating, encouraging and empowering others to do the work. Leaders of the First Place ministry have the task of multiplication before them. There is work to be done and lives to rebuild, yet workers are needed. Sound familiar? In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." This is not a new challenge – co-leaders have always been scarce! However, it seems that Nehemiah had a large quantity of co-laborers. I believe the key was passion. Nehemiah didn’t just complete the degree of faith, but he did it with passion. People willingly team up with those who are enthusiastic about their work. He was able to complete the degree of administration because of his enthusiastic attitude. My contemporary example of one who has mastered this degree is Carole Lewis. She can get so excited about a project that people genuinely want to get involved, even before she asks! If you are stuck at this level, forever trapped into being the one and only leader, then ask God for passion . . . a passion to do what He has called you to do. He is faithful to give it. (Hebrews 10:23)

I believe that Nehemiah and all leaders never attain the “last” degree; they simply are always going deeper into another level of leadership. After the task of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem was physically completed, the task of rebuilding lives began. Nehemiah now redirected the people’s attention to their spiritual lives that were also in disrepair. This task undoubtedly would require yet another degree of leadership for Nehemiah. As soon as he graduated from one level, he was led to pursue another. That, my dear leaders, is what is meant by “taking your leadership to the next level.”

My son, Will, graduates from high school in May and feels that he has already arrived. Recently, I asked if he had any homework or projects that he was to be working on and he replied, “I am a senior; all I have to do is go to class.” I then thought to myself, “Boy, does he have a lot to learn!” Oh, precious leaders, may we never get to the place that all we think we have to do is show up in our class and lead. Be a Nehemiah! Take the risk, follow your call with passion, and administer the plan God gives you. Always be seeking to earn another degree of leadership as you experience leadership at the next level!

Lead on!

Nancy Taylor
Leadership Training Director



Nancy Taylor is the First Place Leadership Training Director and joined the First Place staff in 1997. Nancy teaches leadership principles to First Place Leaders throughout the country and at Houston's First Baptist Church where she coordinates all the First Place groups. Nancy also speaks at First Place workshops, rallies, retreats, and conferences, where she delights her audiences with humor and encourages them with boldness. She writes a monthly article, which includes helpful tips for leaders, for the First Place E-newsletter, and was a contributing writer to the Today is the First Day devotional book. Nancy is the resident First Place Bible Concordance because of her love for Scripture memory.