The Debrief That Wasn't: What Saul’s Fall Teaches Us About Servant Leadership in GovCon
Aug 31
3 min read
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In 1 Samuel 28, King Saul—desperate, isolated, and out of alignment with God—seeks out a medium to summon the prophet Samuel from the dead. What he receives is not comfort, but confirmation: he is exactly where Samuel warned he would be. His disobedience, pride, and failure to heed correction have sealed his fate. Saul didn’t just lose a battle—he lost the opportunity to learn from his past.
This ancient story holds a modern mirror to the Government Contracting world, especially in how we handle proposal debriefs. Too often, contractors treat debriefs as a formality—or worse, as a justification to protest. But what if we saw them as sacred opportunities for growth?
The Missed Debrief: A Modern Saul Syndrome
In GovCon, we’ve all seen it: a team pours months into a proposal, only to fall short. The debrief arrives, but instead of listening, leaders defend. Instead of learning, they blame. Instead of repenting, they repeat. Like Saul, they seek answers but ignore the truth. Debriefs are not curses. They are counsel. They are the voice of Samuel—sometimes stern, always instructive—reminding us that the path to victory is paved with humility, not hubris.
Servant Leadership and the Sacred Art of Listening
A Servant Leader approaches a debrief not with defensiveness, but with discernment. If you read my July devotional (Shameless Plug[1]), especially the themes of humility (James 4:6), accountability (1 Corinthians 4:2), and wisdom (James 1:5), you’ll recall that:
Debriefs are mirrors—they reflect not just what we did, but who we are becoming.
Debriefs are discipleship—they train us to lead with integrity, not ego.
Debriefs are stewardship—they help us steward taxpayer dollars, team morale, and future opportunities with greater faithfulness.
Four Lessons from Saul for Today’s Proposal Leaders
Don’t Seek Validation—Seek Truth
Saul wanted Samuel to affirm him. But Samuel gave him a reality check. In debriefs, don’t fish for compliments. Ask hard questions. Invite critique. Truth is the soil where excellence grows.
Own the Outcome
Saul blamed others. Servant Leaders own the result. As Kingdom Living reminds us, “Leadership is not about control—it’s about stewardship.” (Luke 16:10)
Repent and Reset
Saul never truly repented. He regretted. There’s a difference. A Servant Leader uses failure as fuel for transformation. As Proverbs 24:16 says, “The righteous fall seven times and rise again.”
Listen Before It’s Too Late
Saul waited until the battle was lost. Don’t wait until the next RFP drops to reflect. Build a rhythm of post-mortems, lessons learned, and continuous improvement.
Practical Steps for Servant-Led Debriefs
Start with Prayer: Invite God into the process. Ask for wisdom, humility, and clarity.
Create a Safe Space: Encourage honest feedback without fear of blame.
Document and Discern: Capture insights, not just data. What patterns are emerging?
Act on What You Learn: Let the debrief shape your next proposal, your team culture, and your leadership posture.
Conclusion: Don’t Be Saul—Be a Servant
In the end, Saul’s tragedy wasn’t that he lost a war. It’s that he refused to learn. He sought answers without obedience, insight without humility, and victory without surrender.
As Servant Leaders in GovCon, we are called to a higher standard. We don’t just chase contracts—we pursue character. We don’t just win work—we build witness. And we don’t just debrief—we discern.
So, the next time you sit across from a contracting officer, don’t just ask, “Why didn’t we win?” Ask, “What is God teaching us through this?”
Because in the Kingdom—and in contracting—the best leaders don’t just win. They grow.
[1] Kingdom Living: A 31-day Devotional for Servant Leaders in Government Contracting - Kindle edition by Klages, Mark. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
