Who Gets the Credit? Does it Matter to You?

As a children's ministry leader, does it matter to you who gets the credit for the wins?

By nature, we all want to be known, appreciated, recognized and praised for the victories.

But effective leaders go against this natural instinct and shift the credit to the team members who helped them achieve the win.

Average leaders seek out the spotlight. Great leaders shine the spotlight on the team members who helped them.

Average leaders are powerful. Great leaders are empowering.

Average leaders seek to build themselves up. Great leaders seek to build others up.

Average leaders are powerful. Great leaders are empowering.

Average leaders take the credit. Great leaders shift the credit to others.

Average leaders want to be known as the hero. Great leaders make those around them heroes.

Average leaders like to be bragged about. Great leaders brag about others.

Average leaders make themselves better. Great leaders make those around them better.

Average leaders lift themselves up. Great leaders lift up those around them.

I love this quote by Tao Tzu.

The leader doesn't talk, he acts. When his work is done, the people say, 'Amazing: we did it, all by ourselves.'

Our ego longs to get the credit. But we must die to ourselves and live like Jesus modeled for us. His life could be summed up in two words - serve and give.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28

If you want to lead like Jesus, then your leadership style should be one of giving and serving others.

Give away the credit.

Give away the praise.

Give away the accolades.

Give away whose idea it was.

If you are a great leader, then you should be able to step back in the shadows and the ministry runs the same without you.

Always remember...your job is to equip other people to do the work of the ministry. And when they do the work of the ministry in a great way, you should sit back and let the credit go to them.