Lead your boss? John Kotter, consultant and professor, has said that your effectiveness as a leader is connected to your ability to influence your leader.
In the famous biblical account of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and repopulating the city, we see that he first led his boss, the king of Persia. Without the king’s support and help, Nehemiah’s vision would have remained only in his mind. Here are three things Nehemiah did, according to the text:
1. He was not “the mopey person.” The text reads that this was the first time he had ever appeared sad in the king’s presence before. He was the person who added joy to the team, the person who was optimistic and not the mopey person around the office.
2. He appealed to what was important to his leader. When Nehemiah asked to go to Jerusalem, he did not say “so we can worship Yahweh.” He led with “the place of his ancestors being in disgrace” which would have mattered to the king too.
3. He was really clear. He spoke with clarity about his vision, how long he would be gone, and the resources and authority he needed.
If you want more credibility with your leader, don’t be the perpetually sad person, care about what your leader cares about, and be really clear.
