Nehemiah 7:2
“That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.”
When it came time for Nehemiah to go back to the palace, he had to find some people to put in leadership positions who would continue the work that they had started. It says in the verse above that he placed Hanani and Hananiah in charge of the palace and over the city of Jerusalem. Both places were very important as they were the center for all Israel. Those places were the places Israel looked to for direction. When you look at the qualities of these men, you find their qualities are needed in every leader.
The first quality they had that every leader needs is faithfulness. If a person cannot be faithful to what they are supposed to do before they have position, then they won’t be faithful to what they are supposed to do after they have position. Position doesn’t make someone faithful, but character is what causes a person to be faithful. Leadership should never be given to someone who cannot be faithful before they have position. If a person can’t be faithful in that which is little, then how are they going to be faithful when they are given greater responsibility.
Moreover, you shouldn’t get upset that you haven’t been given a position when you are not faithful to what has already been given to you. Leadership positions should be earned, and if you can’t be trusted with what you have right now then why should those in authority trust you with greater responsibility? If you want a greater role in leadership, then be faithful in whatever role you currently have.
The second quality these men had that every leader needs is a fear of God. If a person doesn’t have a fear of God, then they are going to abuse the power of their position. The fear of God is what keeps those in authority in check. When you lose the fear of God, you begin to abuse the powers of your position. Again, you don’t give position to someone in hopes that they will start doing right, but they need to be doing right before they are given position. A fear of God causes people to obey God’s Word. It is the fear of God that carries a fear of what God could do to them if they don’t do right. When leadership has a fear of God, you will never have to worry about them abusing their powers.
The third quality these men had that every leader needs is responsibility. These men were given the responsibility to be sure the gates of Jerusalem were closed before the sun set. If a person doesn’t have the character to do their responsibility without being told, then they should never be given position. A responsible person will get their obligations done on time no matter what obstacles they may face. If a person always has excuses as to why they didn’t get something done, then they cannot be trusted with a leadership role. Leadership roles should only be reserved for those who do what they are supposed to do, when they are supposed to do it, without being told. This is called responsibility!
These three qualities are necessary qualities for quality leadership. When looking for someone to fill a leadership role, be sure they have these qualities so that you won’t be disappointed at a later time. If you want more leadership responsibilities, then be sure you have these qualities in you. These qualities will set you apart and will be the thing that grabs the attention of those looking to fill a leadership role.