Wise leaders go boldly but not blindly into their future. Read Ecclesiastes 11:1-6.

The fast paced world of today’s leaders forces them to take calculated risks, proactively establish goals, and develop momentum toward those goals without all the facts. The demands on leaders to complete tasks and move on generally won’t allow them to wait for the perfect conditions before making a decision and taking action. Both the risks and moving forward before conditions are perfect are excursions into unexplored territory and will draw on a leader’s courage and discernment.

Effective leaders provide for leadership during their long-term absences. Read Nehemiah 13.

Nehemiah is one of the best models of effective leadership in the Bible. But, even Nehemiah left some vital leadership roles unfinished and they ultimately hurt both him and his team. After 12 years in Jerusalem, Nehemiah returned to Babylon to once again serve the king. According to 13:6, “…Some time later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem.” Upon his return he learned that a priest had allowed a foreigner to use part of the temple as his extravagant residence, that the people no longer provided provisions for the priests and Levites as required by the Law of God, and that the Jewish residents had violated the covenant they had made with God and were once again intermarrying with pagan neighbors.

We have all watched sporting events where one team could not get a break. The outcome seemed sure. All the momentum was working for one team when something happens – a mistake by the team with all the momentum or a super effort by one of the players on the downtrodden team and momentum swings and the impossible happens; the sure winner loses. Momentum is a leader’s best friend. Momentum is critical for success. When a leader has momentum with their team they may even appear to be better than they really are. Momentum can’t be taken for granted and when it slips the wise leader takes action to get it back. Read Nehemiah 4:7-20.

Nehemiah was enjoying great success in the Jerusalem wall building project. The people bought into Nehemiah’s leadership. They saw the vision, acted with unity and were moving quickly to build a wall around the city. The people in Jerusalem were enjoying great success and they had forward momentum to finish the project when some of the region’s men, who had control before Nehemiah showed up, made their move. These were high-powered, non-Jewish officials who had influence, wealth and military power.

No leader can ignore the impact of momentum. If you’ve got it, you and your team will be able to accomplish things you never thought possible. If you don’t, the smallest task becomes hard work and difficult. Effective leaders understand momentum, make the choice to have it, seek God’s favor and guidance, and work to develop it. Read 1 Kings 2:1-4:24.

How does a winning team keep winning? What makes it possible for an organization to keep the momentum going? How did Solomon so successfully take the reins from his father?

Every leader will experience the joy and challenge of assuming a new position at some point during their leadership life. Read 1 Kings 2 and 3.

Israel was in a time of transition from David’s leadership to Solomon’s leadership. David had built on his predecessor Saul’s accomplishments and the nation had tremendous wealth, military power, respect and momentum. The time of transition from one leader to another presents one of the most challenging times to continue momentum. The challenge was to successfully take the reins from his father and ensure momentum continued through a smooth transition.