Nehemiah had a building project

Rick Warren has posted "Seven principles for every project" based on Nehemiah's model of leadership. I don't think I need to make the connect here, do I?

1. Simplification
Nehemiah did what worked naturally. He used groups of people that already existed and didn't try to reinvent ministry leadership roles for the sake of a building committee.

2. Participation
Nehemiah worked with people who wanted to work, and ignored the people who didn't want to work.

3. Delegation
Break down major goals into smaller tasks. Develop clear job descriptioins. Match the right person with the right task. Assign specific responsibility.

4. Motivation
Help people "own" the project, and allow them to work in their areas of interest. This is especially true of volunteers; everyone has other things to do.

5. Cooperation
"Good organizations provide a supportive climate of trust and teamwork." Nehemiah could not have rebuilt the wall on his own, or even with a few close friends. Your building project will be the best it can be when your entire congregation is in "one accord."

6. Administration
Supervise. Nehemiah walked up and down the wall inspecting the work. "People do what you inspect, not what you expect." Delegate authority and responsibility to your building committee(s) or committee members, but review their work too.

7. Appreciation
If someone is doing a good job, let him or her know! People will slowly become weary and burnt out if they don't feel their work is valued. Nehemiah knew the names of the people working on the wall, and even went so far as to write them all down!

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