Do you freely give recognition to your team? (78-5)
The Bible is very clear that no leader should be involved in leadership for the honor or recognition. My own personal experience has been that many of us took responsibility to lead the first few times seeking recognition but found that very shallow and unfulfilling. The price of leadership is so high that recognition alone doesn’t sustain the motivation needed to lead. Yet, God created the feeling we get from recognition. Read Judges 4.
Israel had been under the iron rule of King Jabin of Canaan who reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army had a powerful force including 900 iron chariots manned by expert, experienced, proven horsemen and soldiers. From all known military understanding, with Israel’s lack of central leadership and the divisions between tribes, and the lack of a standing army, Israel did not have a chance to defeat them.
Barak was from the little talked about tribe of Naphtali. Deborah called for Barak while she was judging the people between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of the tribal land of the tribe of Ephraim. Her words from the Lord for Barak were, “The Lord the God of Israel commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands’ ” (Judges 4:6-7).
Barak heard God’s command to lead. He understood God’s battle plan. He realized that God had promised him victory. But Barak listened to his fears. Barak’s request was that Deborah accompany the army into the battle zone. “Very well,” Deborah said, “I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman” (Judges 4:9).
My mom, a lady of 10,000 sayings, used to say that recognition was something “babies cry for and grown men will die for.” Even though it is totally inappropriate for a leader’s sole motivation to be recognition, there is something in every leader that desires an at-a-boy. Recognition is not anti-Biblical when kept within God’s design. Balanced and effective leaders give recognition when it’s deserved.
Do you freely give recognition to your team? Who on your team seems to need more recognition than others? Do you have a plan to keep recognition in the proper balance so your team develops the proper motivation for leadership? What material can you read from other leaders and what portions of the Bible will help you understand the proper use of recognition? Write a single sentence that states what you are willing to do to better understand the proper use of recognition.
1 Corinthians 16:17-18 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
