In our last visit we discussed leadership and delegation. In Exodus 18 another aspect of delegation is highlighted. Moses was visited by his father-in-law, Jethro. He saw how Moses was overwhelmed by the responsibilities of helping the people of Israel find God’s will for their lives. He was burning the candle at both ends and faced emotional breakdown.
Jethro shared an impact statement in verse18: “The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.” I’ll rephrase it this way: What to do when you can’t handle the load on your shoulders alone. That would be the focus of Exodus 18. Now let’s see how it’s amplified by Jethro’s advice.
First, set the vision for the people: tell them what God has said and explain what that looks like in daily behavior.
Second, select capable people to serve under you. Some can handle greater responsibility than others. Only require of each what he or she can handle. If they need training, provide it.
Third, if a case is too difficult for them to handle, be available. Remember when delegating, clearly spell out your expectations. Then delegate only to those who are capable and empower them to do what is assigned and expected. Always, as the leader, be available for difficult situations that inevitably come up.
In yesterday’s study on leadership and delegation we found that it’s important to support those to whom you delegate responsibility. Here we see that we also need to empower them for the task.
