Scholar and teacher Dr. Norman Cohen presents solutions to many of the challenges leaders must face — by drawing on biblical accounts of how Moses resolved the problems he confronted from the time of his birth in Egypt until he reached the border of the Promised Land, where he reluctantly turned over the leadership of the Israelites to Joshua. He then cites cases where contemporary corporate or government leaders were faced with analogous problems and shows how Moses’ approach remains applicable today.
Among the many issues Cohen deals with are overcoming inertia, dealing with self-doubt, team building, setting and clearly communicating objectives, delegating authority, taking disciplinary action, and preparing for succession. Contemporary examples are drawn from the experiences of such leaders as Winston Churchill and Michael Bloomberg, as well as corporate executives such as Fred Smith of FedEx, Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines, Bill O’Brien of Hanover Insurance, Anita Roddick of The Body Shop, and even Red Auerbach, the famed coach of the Boston Celtics.
Business executives who give little or no thought to reading the Bible and clergy who have little or no understanding of business will find that they can learn much from one another and that Moses remains an excellent model for them both. Notes, suggestions for further reading.