A Leader Finds Solutions And Solves Problems

Can you imagine what the world would be like if all leaders were masters at finding solutions and solving problems? Finding solutions and solving problems distinguishes a leader from other people. One of the last instructions I give my staff when I'm travelling is: 'Solve problems, I'll be back.' I am happy to have people who can solve problems. Every assignment you will ever give has problems associated with it. The man who can solve problems as they come up, is the one who is truly valuable and truly a leader!

When I give someone an assignment, I expect him to return to me having accomplished it. Unfortunately, many employees only come back with more problems. Sometimes I look at them with amazement as they tell me about all the problems that they have encountered. Most of the time, I just tell them to solve those problems, and come back with results.

The greatness of an employee is in his ability to find the solutions to all the problems that arise on the job.

Moses' assignment was to take the people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Surely, he ran into all sorts of problems. First, there was the Red Sea, then there was no water, then there was no food. Then they found water but it was bitter.

After this, Moses began to have management problems. People began to complain and murmur. Then he had problems of insubordination with his employees and relatives. As you can see, for Moses to lead his people out of Egypt he had to be able to solve all sorts of problems.

The world is also full of unsolvable problems. There are problems everywhere; there are difficulties at every turn.

Everyone is looking for someone who will be able to take them forward.

Moses stood by the Red Sea and faced a crisis. The advancing Egyptian army was breathing down his neck. How could there be a way forward? But Moses found a solution.

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground…

Exodus 14:21, 22
If you are a pastor, one of the difficult problems that will face you is how to make your church grow. You must strive to lead the people into growth and prosperity. It is not easy, but that is the job of the leader. A successful pastor is someone who has solved the problem of making the church grow.

If you are a businessperson, you will be faced with the difficulty of making profits in the face of stiff competition. Your job is to lead your company into success.

If you are a political leader you will be faced with corruption, industrial action and betrayal at all levels. How can you make something good out of a desperate situation? Remember that it is the leader's job to find solutions and solve problems.

The Master Key to Finding Solutions and Solving Problems 

The master key is wisdom. The Bible teaches that Solomon was a very wise man and he became the richest man that ever lived. He became a stable political leader. He had peace and stability in his reign. These things came by the wisdom of God.

Can wisdom solve problems? The Bible teaches about a city that was in crisis.

Enemy forces surrounded it and there was no hope for anyone. However, deliverance came to the city through a poor but wise man. Solutions for impossible situations come through wisdom.

There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

Ecclesiastes 9:14, 15
Two Ways to Receive Wisdom
1. Wisdom comes through reading.
Read the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes everyday and ask God to give you wisdom for the affairs of this life. Take it from me. Life is full of impossible situations. Life is full of problems with no solutions. That is why God raises up leaders to help bring answers to questions that have no answers.

2. Wisdom comes through prayer.
The most important prayer for a leader is the prayer for wisdom. A leader must constantly ask God for wisdom.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:5
Indeed, it is our prayer that all leaders become masters of finding solutions and solving problems!

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By Dag Heward-Mills