I will never be the first to cast a stone, because everybody has things to improve on, and I have it on good authority (John 8:7) that it is the wrong thing to do. Don’t worry, I am not here to preach.
I do want to point out the amazing similarities between the circumstances surrounding the people Moses led to freedom (during and after The Exodus), the relevant concern that Moses expressed for those same people once they settled, and the similarity in our divide today in the absence of good CARING leadership.
No doubt that amazing leadership was a big component of what led those people to safety, it has in every era. However, the major components that gave way to how effective their leader could be, were four things. That Moses had faith in God, CARED for his people, he was willing to listen to others and that the people were united by a common cause and direction.
About the differences that at the end of the day can’t matter:
If I had to guess, it is reasonable to surmise (from a probabilistic standpoint) that out of the approximately 400,000 people who ran (fled) together during The Exodus, they didn’t all share the same political views when they weren’t running. They probably had a different point of view on such topics as the importance of the military and its structure, what freedom should look like, their working and living conditions, or, among hundreds of other possible ideological subdivisions, about what makes a good leader.
But on the day that their difference of opinion paled in comparison, they all realized the bigger threat they were facing, an opportunity arose— a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity —to go after something together with Faith, Effort, and Teamwork. An opportunity that would have been missed if they weren’t all on board.
This thought came to me while watching a movie about the story of Moses leading his people to safety. Although it is likely plagued with historical inconsistencies (as all feature presentations are), something that the character playing Moses said struck a chord.
As the people were getting ready to cross, he said (paraphrased), ‘I am concerned for their future.’ What will happen to their unity once they stop running?
What he was saying is so profound and relevant to today that it was one of those epiphany moments where all other thoughts, for just a second, came to a complete halt.
In other words, what Moses was saying is that in the absence of a reason large enough to bring everybody together, all the small mundane nuances of daily life (creating perceived differences) would slowly eat away at that unity, fizzling them back down into very defeatable small groups. See any parallels?
Power for any population has never been found in division, nor has benefit for them to be found in unity for the wrong reason.
Questions that come to my mind (in this context) as I am seeking to make a positive impact on leadership are:
What are some of the possible toxic similarities between facets of Pharaoh’s leadership during the time of the Exodus and aspects of leadership today?
Would a reasonable person consider Pharaoh to be a kind-hearted leader who believed in serving the public under his rule and protection? Did he set up a system where communities, families, and their children, community servants and their families and children could thrive, or was his heart hardened by self-centered interests?
Would those same reasonable people be able to look at some of the decisions made by leaders of today, and some of the leaders chosen today, and say that those were selected in the public’s and organization’s best interest?
As you ask yourselves these profound questions, I hope it motivates you to join the ranks of, and potentially become, leaders and followers who seek a proactive role in the greater good and what builds us.
It is okay to seek a promotion at work or a position of leadership to earn a better income for your family, to give them and enjoy a better life with them, because, regretfully, promotion is often tied to income. However, this must also be balanced by having the intention and plan to help those under your leadership and protection reach the potential that their hearts are calling them to achieve.
The difference that people under your command are seeking to make and be a part of within the context of the mission and beyond cannot be made second to the mission.
You must always “hold present” in your mind the needs of those that you lead. You should always consider the well-being of those who will be affected by your decision. The mission before the man/woman is a clever but seemingly impractical saying because, without the man/woman, there is no mission.
I have heard many great leaders, among them retired Lieutenant Rodney Treadwell, say that being a leader makes things less about you and more about the people you lead and the impact of your leadership.
What Moses would say about Leadership in general
A leader is a beacon of light in the room for those who rely on their guidance. Rest assured that issues will arise whenever more than one person is asked to accomplish something together.
A compassionate and good leader, though, will always seek to help those under their supervision to put the issue at hand in the proper perspective so that all may move forward in the strongest way possible.
What advice would Moses give to today’s leadership in law enforcement and those choosing it?
Moses led thousands of people. He was called upon to settle disputes and monitor direction and effort on a daily, and probably hourly, basis, and because he cared, he tried to handle it all himself.
As a caring leader, you may want to handle everything yourself, but that is never ideal as a model.
To this, Moses’s father-in-law gave the following advice.
It is paramount that the executive leaders select qualified and CARING subordinate leaders to share the burden of command with integrity. If any component of leadership falters for an extended period, the mission and morale will suffer, and low productivity and retention rates will follow.
In Exodus 1:21 Jethro speaks on how to select leaders: “21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.”
In modern day, this is what is referred to as the span of control. The adage “hire for character, train for skill” resonates in Jeethro’s advice as well.
Having the proper span of control is critical because it has a direct correlation to the safety of the operators and the effectiveness of the mission.
Not only will the fate of progress be sealed by the quality and caliber of those chosen to lead the various facets of the mission, but only those leaders with proper integrity will be willing to share the burden of command.
The quality of the above advice is evident, but it also makes an insightful secondary point worth noting.
Even history’s wisest leaders were willing to receive advice from others–
As a new or seasoned leader, never run your watch or department as if nobody above you, beneath you or next to you can help your process be better. In fact, as the executive, encourage all formal and informal leaders to provide input and effort on the direction and priorities needed to accomplish the objectives.
With this type of buy-in, the bottom line is expected to improve. Every little aspect cannot be a debate, or nothing will. The opposite, which is regretfully too familiar, is equally counterproductive. Get done, but t.
How would the mission that was entrusted to Moses have been set back if he hadn’t been willing to listen to God or Jethro?
Why do you think that Jethro chose those character traits to describe what to look for when selecting our leaders?
Could it be because if those chosen to lead weren’t God fearing, honest, trustworthy and bribe hating people, you would have people running things that don’t care about the people on the team they are leading as well as leaders that will be willing to jeopardize the mission and people’s safety, for personal interest or out of ignorance?
Anybody can be appointed to a position of leadership, but only those willing to be there for those they lead, in the full spectrum of all that is entailed in being a worthy leader, should be granted the position.
Think of the best leaders you’ve had. Did they fit the Jethro model (ideal mold)?
Think of the worst leaders you’ve had. How would the crossing spoken of in the Exodus have gone if those people had been in charge?
Question Moses would ask us to consider
Are the leaders that we select today fitting the ideal mold? If not, could that be a reason for the poor retention rates, low morale, and productivity in police departments and other organizations today?
An opportunity, without
- vision,
- unity, and
- leadership that cares about those being led,
will always fail eventually. Just as wanting difference for yourself or selves alone will cause all those under your hardened heart to flee.
“Without people there is no soldier. Without soldiers there is no army. And without an army, a general will stand alone on the battlefield.” (Eric Aguiar LLB Tactical Police Leadership: Ancient Wisdom for Modern policing)
-A true leader is a mentor to their people-
Conclusion
What would Moses ask if he saw the way things were today?
Would he ask what has been productive from the constant bickering with each other? Would he ask us to revisit how we choose our leaders and how we, as leaders, take care of those who depend on our leadership? Or perhaps he would urge society and those guarding it to recognize pursuing the same goal: that we are both safe from those trying to steal our property and our peace.
As Moses looks at what we’ve become once the waves have settled and we’ve stopped running, do you think he sees the same unity it took for all of us to get here?
Or do you think he would see what he feared would eventually happen on that day during the crossing? Division…
Eric Aguiar LLB
