Page 10 - The Bible On Leadership

Preface xi

astute team-building ever accomplished. And his mastery of the sym-
bolic act gained him the largest following of any leader before or after
him.

The Bible is full of these and other leaders—kings, prophets, war-
riors, strategists, and visionaries. It is a story of prophets true and false,
fortunes gained and lost, organizations ascending and crashing. Its literal
truth has been questioned, but its lessons and stories have been em-
braced as universal archetypes that influence the way we live our lives
on a deep psychological, spiritual, and symbolic level.
So why shouldn’t this biblical wisdom on leadership be applied on a
business level? This book attempts to do just that, reviewing the most
inspiring biblical ‘‘case studies’’ and comparing them to the challenges
faced and conquered by some of today’s most successful business leaders.
It should come as no ‘‘revelation’’ that the traits and skills of successful
Bible leaders are also those exhibited by the most successful modern
leaders:

❖ Honesty and integrity
❖ Purpose
❖ Kindness and compassion
❖ Humility
❖ Communication
❖ Performance management
❖ Team development
❖ Courage
❖ Justice and fairness
❖ Leadership development

The emphasis of this book is on business, and most of the modern
case studies depict business situations. But the Bible also has lessons for
leaders in politics, athletics, the arts, and yes, even religion. You should
find this book useful whether you are leading a business unit, a political
committee or task force, an athletic team, a symphony orchestra, or a
religious institution such as a church or synagogue (you have one of the