Ask For What You Need

The leaders of the tribe of Levi came to consult with Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the other tribes of Israel. They came to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us towns to live in and pasturelands for our livestock.” Joshua 21:1-2

I was mentoring a bright young man in his first organizational-leadership role. He became frustrated when his board of directors allocated staff increases to every department but his.

I asked what the board had said when he requested the increase. He said, “I never actually asked. I just figured they knew how important this was. I mean, they’re always talking about how much we need to grow.”

It was common knowledge that the Levites would be given property within each of the other tribes’ regional land grants.

Joshua, the Levites, and all the people knew this, but the Levites didn’t just assume that Joshua would do what was right. They made their request.

My student had committed a common leadership error: He presumed and was not proactive with his requests. The board had committed to a growth strategy that included his department, but he had not followed through.

Never presume. Always ask.