I've
written in the past about quiet leadership, the kind that speaks with a
"still, small voice" (I Kings 19:12; see my blog entry for Rosh
Hashanah 5773). Today, I want to focus more specifically on silence.
These thoughts have their roots in a combination of my reading of the second
chapter in this week's parasha (מטות-מסעי)
and of losing my voice for a few days last week.
I
was surprised to find that saying less at work actually forced me to give more
space to others and helped me to focus on essentials rather than get caught up
in details. My frustrations at this temporary physical limitation also
reminded me how much ego is involved in running meetings, asking questions,
teaching, and so on. I'm tempted to recommend that everyone try leading in complete
silence for a whole day, every once in a while. It's definitely good for the
soul, and it's probably also good for business!
Numbers
31 includes two incidents related to leadership and silence. The first
occurs at the start of the chapter (verses 1-3), when God commands Moses to
wage war against the Midianites:
א
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר. ב נְקֹם נִקְמַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
מֵאֵת הַמִּדְיָנִים אַחַר תֵּאָסֵף אֶל-עַמֶּיךָ. ג וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה
אֶל-הָעָם לֵאמֹר הֵחָלְצוּ מֵאִתְּכֶם אֲנָשִׁים לַצָּבָא וְיִהְיוּ עַל-מִדְיָן
לָתֵת נִקְמַת-יְהוָה בְּמִדְיָן.
1
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'Avenge the children of Israel of the
Midianites; afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.' 3 And Moses
spoke unto the people, saying: 'Arm ye men from among you for the war, that
they may go against Midian, to execute the LORD'S vengeance on Midian.
Rashi
comments on verse 3:
וידבר
משה וגו' . אף על פי ששמע שמיתתו תלויה בדבר עשה בשמחה ולא אחר
"And
Moses spoke unto the people, etc" - Even though he heard that his death
hang upon it, he did it joyously and did not delay.
In
other words, even though Moses knew that God intended to take his life
immediately after he completed this assignment, he approached the task with the
same commitment and enthusiasm with which he fulfilled all God's commandments.
Moses's
conspicuous silence and obedience at a moment so heavy with tragic personal
implications is perhaps one of his most outstanding acts of leadership. Moses
was not afraid to confront God, or even to bargain with Him. But one of the
things that made him a great leader was his ability to know when to speak out
and when to remain silent; when to lead and when to follow.
Though
there is a tendency to think of leadership as a character trait, it is more
like a practice: something one does rather than something one is. All great
leaders have the ability not only to lead loudly from the front but also to
push gently from behind, to guide quietly from the side, and, yes, also to
follow, when that is what the situation requires. Moses's silence in verse 3
communicates louder than any words his total commitment to fulfilling God's
commandments and establishing His kingdom on earth. Indeed, it is perhaps the
most eloquent statement he ever made about his vision and values.