Timing is everything
“By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry. Then God said to Noah, “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. ”
Have you ever wanted to speed things up? Maybe hurry up and start something you’re excited about? Or bring something to a close that’s dragged out way too long?
Leaders tend to be impatient by nature. You’re ambitious and driven. You’ve got big ideas and you’re excited by them. You don’t want to be held back.
Noah had to be getting antsy.
40 days and nights of rain. 150 more days of floodwaters. 40+ more days waiting for the ground to dry up. Another two months waiting for God to give the go-ahead.
Over a year on the boat, and Noah still waited for God. A year on the boat - and with good evidence that it was safe to exit (Gen 8:6-12) - and still, he waited for God.
leadership insights from noah
Manage your impatience - especially when you think the job is done. That last ten, five, two percent can be the most treacherous part of any project. You’re so close, you can see the finish line, you’re ready to celebrate, you’re ready to move on to the next thing. But if you stop short, the project will fail. Along the way, check back in with leaders and stakeholders to really understand what “done” looks like. Build a “done” checklist to help you know when you’re getting there. Any time you’re feeling like you want to jump off the boat, review your checklist, then keep moving on.
Do your own research, too. Noah didn’t just hang out, waiting for some divine heads-up that it was safe to leave the ark. He checked out his surroundings and collected data for himself. As leaders, it’s rare that we get crystal-clear guidance from God (or from our leaders, for that matter). You’re not going to get every decision right. Yes, stay connected with your leader and seek guidance when it makes sense, but do your research too. To help, when you go into a project, think through the critical milestones. Then, think through the data points or metrics you’d need to see to let you know you’ve reached one milestone and are ready to pursue the next.
