Moses was approximately 80 years old when the Lord called him to lead the people of Israel out of their captivity in Egypt and into the Promised Land. He did not think he was the right choice for the job and tried to disqualify himself by arguing: Who am I to do this? What if people don't listen to me? What if they don't believe me or decide not to follow me? I won’t know what to say. In a final act of desperation, Moses asked God to appoint someone else to lead His people. (Book of Exodus, chapters 3 and 4.)
I don't know about you, but I've felt like Moses. There have been times in my life and career when I wondered if the task ahead of me would be more than I could handle; when I doubted my abilities; when I was unsure whether I would succeed or fail as a leader. In healthy amounts, self-awareness and apprehension give me an opportunity to pause, carefully consider the project or request, and avoid overcommitment; but when left unchecked, they can turn into self-criticism and fear, and rob me of the opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference. Like Moses, I sometimes need the encouragement and trust of those who see in me what I’m unable to see and who challenge me to be the best version of myself.
"In healthy amounts, self-awareness and apprehension give me an opportunity to pause, carefully consider the project or request, and avoid overcommitment; but when left unchecked, they can turn into self-criticism and fear, and rob me of the opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference."
After accepting his new role, Moses went on to spend the next 40 years of his life leading Israel through the Wilderness of Zin (or Desert of Sin, in the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula) and into the land of Canaan, which today encompasses Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, and the southern portions of Syria and Lebanon. The Exodus journey became the ultimate school of leadership for Moses and others. Their story has often inspired my own leadership journey as I have embraced the following lessons.
I don't have to do it alone. When Moses expressed his concern about his credibility and ability, the Lord responded by providing a co-leader for his mission - his older brother Aaron. Months later, when Moses found himself overwhelmed with responsibility, help came in the form of mentoring through his father-in-law, Jethro, who counseled him on the advantages of delegation and empowering others. (Book of Exodus, chapter 18.) I lead a small team. By relying on each person's strengths, challenging each other in constructive ways, and respecting the division of responsibilities, we are able to manage serious and complex problems in effective ways. Working collaboratively, offering and receiving constructive criticism, and heeding the advice of those who have led before me have been instrumental building our team's credibility across our organization.
There is great value in thinking things through. Not counting women and children, Moses led over 600,000 people out of Egypt. Ensuring the health, security, and safety of the entire community while navigating an unknown environment must have seemed like an insurmountable task! If he was to succeed in leading his people to Canaan safely, Moses needed a strategy that took into account all the variables– predators, enemies, illness, lack of shelter, the weather, access to water, quarrels among the people, and food availability. The corporate wilderness presents its own set of variables: changes in strategy, personnel loses, new technology, economic uncertainty, emerging regulations, and competing priorities... just to name a few. To thrive, I must be flexible. To successfully craft solutions that will help my team overcome obstacles and achieve our goals, I must also seek to understand the problems, asking good questions, challenging my assumptions, and considering other perspectives. Albert Einstein was quoted saying "If I had an hour to solve a problem I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions." In an environment that can be very demanding of my time, I am careful not to fall into the trap of jumping to conclusions. A poorly designed plan will surely result in loss of time, resources, and trust.
I need a succession plan. Moses understood that the future of his people depended not only on his ability to lead them to the Promised Land, but also on Israel's ability to lead themselves after he was gone. He took the time to prepare, coach, and encourage his successor Joshua, and ensured the People understood there would be a transition. (Book of Numbers, chapter 27 and Book of Deuteronomy, chapter 31). The idea of "passing the torch" may seem counter-intuitive in the context of career advancement. In my experience, however, recognizing when to step down, step aside, or step up in a different direction has only strengthened my career. As a leader, my main responsibility is to develop other leaders, creating opportunities for them to grow, be successful, and be promoted. I often tell my boss that my goal is to make myself completely unnecessary in my role. Only then will I be considered a suitable candidate for new opportunities.
Whether you’re new to your leadership role or an experienced, seasoned leader, Moses and the Wilderness School of Leadership offer timeless advice. What would be the impact on you and your team if you incorporated some of these ideas into your leadership strategy?