I loathe confrontation, which has led to several terrible decisions in my career. However, as a people pleaser, there have been times when I would much rather smile and endure than muster the courage required to face a problem face-to-face.
There were tire track impressions on my back. Stark reminders of several situations when I allowed someone to run right over me rather than stand my ground. (If it hadn’t been for my wife’s encouragement and support, there would have been many more examples).
The problem is that ignoring a problem rarely makes it go away, and refusing to stand up and confront an issue is not the definition of a strong, courageous leader.
Happily, the Bible gives us many examples of courageous people that God called on to do a great work. One of my favorites is a little orphan girl named Esther.
Esther’s parents had died, and she was raised by her cousin Mordecai. Esther, a Jewess, became queen of Persia through a series of remarkable circumstances, the greatest superpower the world had ever seen.
Haman, the prime minister of Persia, hated the Jews, and through a series of lies, Haman convinced the king that the Jews must be exterminated. Mordecai heard about the king’s edict to kill all the Jews and secretly got word to his cousin Esther.
Esther’s actions teach us five essential truths about leadership in the face of death:
Understand the Situation (Esther 4:1-8)
Mordecai got a copy of the king’s edict to Esther in the palace so she would understand what was at stake.
At the same time, he told her she was the one person God had placed in a unique situation to save her people.
Lesson for Us. Esther took her time to read through the king’s edict. She understood the edict’s implications and her unique position to act on behalf of her people. Always take the time to really understand the situation before you agree to engage.
Count the Cost (Esther 4:9-10)
Esther realized that coming before the king without being summoned might result in her execution unless the king granted her permission to come forward.
Lesson for Us. Most of the leadership situations you and I face are not life and death. Regardless, a wise man or woman counts the cost before proceeding.
Seek God’s Wisdom (Esther 4:15-17)
Esther sent word to Mordecai that she and her servants, Mordecai, and all the Jews should pray and fast for three days to seek God’s wisdom.
Lesson for Us. Esther didn’t just pray for wisdom herself. She engaged her staff and all the Jews throughout the land to pray and fast with her. This is an oft-neglected step in the leadership action plan. Ask God! We tend to run ahead of God, working on our own power. Let’s remember to stop and seek God’s will.
Plan a Course of Action
Esther carefully planned out her approach to the king and how she would request the king to save her people.
Lesson for Us. We’re not told explicitly in the story, but sometime during the three days of prayer and fasting, Esther devised a detailed plan of action to approach the king and make her request known. Never act against a significant initiative without a well-developed plan!
Execute Your Plan (Esther 5:1-8, 7:1-10)
Esther got all dressed up in her royal robes and approached the king, who allowed her to enter. When the king asked what she wanted, she asked only that the king and Haman join her for dinner that evening. At the dinner, the king asked what she wanted, and she said only for the king and Haman to join her the next evening for dinner, and she would tell him. The next evening, she asked the king to spare her people because they had been sold into destruction by none other than Haman.
Lesson for Us. There is a time for prayer and a time for action. Once the time for prayer was completed, Esther took action the very next day. We need to be just as decisive and courageous, knowing that God is with us whatever happens.
A leader’s role places us in tenuous situations where we must stand courageously like Esther or end up with tire tracks across our backs (like me).
The next time you are confronted with a leadership crisis, make sure you understand the situation, count the cost, seek God’s wisdom, plan a course of action, and then and only then, execute your plan!
More Articles
I have written several articles on courage and risk-taking. You can find them by typing “Courage/Risk-Taking” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorites.
- #192: Why Don’t Some People Step Into the Promise of God?
- #124: Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
- #109: Will You Answer God When He Calls You to Lead?
- #083: What To Do When Opportunities Are Blocked By Obstacles
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Have you struggled to deal with difficult situations in your role as a leader? Which of these lessons is most difficult for you?
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Category: Personal Development | Courage/Risk Taking
Yeah, I think I’ve got a few tire marks on my back too. One of the most difficult lessons of leadership is accepting that confrontation is inevitable. It’s impossible to please everybody. I like the truth of knowing the “cost.” There were times when I could have selected an easier path. Sweep something under the carpet. But I knew the cost would be too high. Ethics demanded that I do the right thing, despite it being very difficult. Thanks, Ron!
So true John…I’ve learned the hard way avoiding conflict in an attempt to please everyone usually ends up pleasing no one!
Great one
Thank-you. Glad you liked it!