Podcast, Season 2, Episode 12: Lessons On Leadership From the Life and Times of Ezra (part 12 – Do You Have A Plan?)

In my thirty years of life and experience in leadership roles in Christian organizations, there are leadership lessons that I learned (and continue to learn) from the life of ministry to which God called me.  Over that time, He taught me lessons based on stories, principles, and truths from the Bible that have been translated into personal application.  This particular series of articles focuses on a set of those lessons drawn from the book of Ezra in the Old Testament, the same lessons that I have published in my latest book. This week, in part 12, I am discussing one of several lessons on the practice of leadership, and this one is the process of strategic planning. Here is the transcript of the podcast.

In this series we are diving deeper into principles and practices that connect biblical truth with wisdom and applying them to the practice of leadership. The purpose of the series, and of the website as a whole, is to connect faith, wisdom, and leadership in a way that will help you grow in your leadership and make an impact. That starts with realizing that God has a plan and purpose that can be trusted, whether or not we can visibly see His hand in it, and He has a part for us in this purpose.

We then spent 3 weeks laying the groundwork for effective leadership, using the analogy of the starting blocks in a race, when all the runners line up and get into position, and the starter yells, “On your mark, get set, go!” The first command, “On Your Mark,” was all about getting to the starting line and in the right place by getting yourself into the right frame of mind and equipping yourself for what is coming. Aligning yourself with truth by seeking and knowing God and knowing where He has placed you, and by establishing your foundational beliefs and values, gives you the capability to lead. The second command, “Get Set,” was all about getting into position in the right form, so that you are best prepared to start well. Performing the actions that set you up to be followed and trusted involves living your life so that your actions and behaviors reflect those beliefs, and that gives you the credibility to lead. The final command, “Go,” is when the starter’s pistol goes off and you start running. That’s when your work begins as you start leading your people and your organization toward your mission, vision, or change. This is hard work and therefore requires someone who is both capable and credible, and that’s why this step must follow the other two. But with those things in place, the race is underway, and what follows are the things you do to maintain your pace and your race. We have already talked about the importance of the ability to see the big picture, giving people a voice in the process and then motivating them, facing obstacles and opposition, and the importance of celebrating. Today we are discussing the process of strategic planning.

I have been involved in some sort of strategic planning process numerous times. Each one was a little different, yet they all shared some common characteristics as well. Sometimes I was part of a committee, while other times I primarily had to do it by myself. Sometimes it was for a specific change initiative, while other times it was for a 5-year organizational plan. But whether it involved me standing in a room and putting different-colored 8×10 post-it notes on a wall or assembling committees of parents, employees, and board members to work together, and regardless of what it was for or who I was working with, what didn’t change was that there was an intentional process that produced an intentional plan.

You see, strategic planning is just that: an intentional process intended to produce an intentional plan. There may be many forms that the process can take, and the community of leaders, employees, and customers or stakeholders need to agree on what the outcome should look like. But it still needs to be intentional. Therefore, you need to assess and identify the process that will work best for your organization, and you need to drive the determination of what that goal needs to be. Although not the only process or method that you can use, I love the model that is shown in the book of Ezra that I break down into 3 phases – Prepare, Share, and Dare – with three steps each.

1. Step one is to Prepare, which is about setting yourself up for success.
   1. First, prepare yourself spiritually and emotionally, to ready yourself for the task ahead of you, and especially humble your heart before God.
   1. Next, identify the right people who need to be part of the process, the issue or vision that needs to be addressed, and the goal that is desired.
   1. Finally, adjust based on the obstacles and opposition that looks like will present itself
2. Step two is to Share, which is about effectively communicating.
   1. First, Communicate. Talk about the plan, the need that will be met, what will be involved, and why it matters.
   1. Next, Listen to others. Give people an opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas, so that they are involved and can take ownership
   1. Finally, Adjust based on the feedback and input you receive. Make sure you really listen and then apply valuable input to make things better.
3. Step three is to Dare, which is about launching the plan.
   1. First, Establish the process and procedures you will be following.
   1. Next, Implement the plan! Take the first step and start the ball rolling. You don’t need to wait until everything is perfect, because it probably never will be.
   1. That’s why, finally, you can Adjust along the way. Continue to get feedback, pay attention, and modify where necessary.

There are lots of ways to create and carry out a strategic plan. The best one to use can vary, depending on the circumstance and the leader, but it is important to be intentional about having one. What I have shared is only one way to look it, but there are valuable lessons and tools that are found in it. Your job now is to take the lead and start the process. What do you need to address, and how are you going to go about it?