A LEADER can delegate anything except responsibility. A challenge to balance when learning how to lead. Leaders simply cannot give it away. They can model it; they can teach it; they can share it. But in the words of President Harry Truman, the buck stops with the leader.

Responsibility - "the ability to meet obligations; the act of being accountable; a duty of trust" - is one of the 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. It's the ability to make and keep commitments.

When Jehoshaphat became king of Judah, he assumed a trust. Like all kings, he was to lead, protect, and manage the nation's resources. Second Chronicles 20 records his greatest challenge to that point in his leadership. An army from three countries laid plans to attack Judah. Reports of their activity frightened the king (2 Chr. 20:3). No doubt, he faced the same options we all face in a crisis: give up, back up, or stand up. At such times, we find out the quality of our leadership:

1. The dropouts: leaders who give up and fail to take responsibility.
2. The cop-outs: leaders who make excuses for why they aren't responsible.
3. The hold-outs: leaders who waver too long to take responsibility.
4. The all-outs: leaders who own the responsibility and take action.

What Steps Did Jehoshaphat Take?

Second Chronicles 20 provides us with a beautiful story of a human leader who did what was right. Consider the appropriate steps he took:

1. He fought his fear (vv. 2,3). Jehoshaphat was terrified, but he didn't let it paralyze him. He stayed calm enough to think.
2. He sought the Lord (vv. 3, 6-13). Before he did anything else, he sought perspective by praying and seeking wisdom from God.
3. He brought the synergy (vv. 3,4). He didn't act alone, but gathered the people to inform them of the issue.
4. He caught the vision (vv. 14-17). He listened to the voice of the Lord until he knew what to do.
5. He bought the idea (vv. 18,19). He bowed his head and began to embrace the steps he and his nation had to take.
6. He taught the plan (vv. 20-23). He assembled the key players and gave them instructions on what each had to do.
7. He secured the victory (vv. 24, 25). He followed through with precision and succeeded, just as God predicted.

What quality of a leader are you?

It takes steps to be impactful for others. How can you apply this lesson of responsibility in your life?