Do you rejoice when a teammate you empowered is promoted beyond you? (87-3)
It takes great courage on the part of a leader to truly empower those on their team.
Leaders that are honest with themselves inherently understand that some of the loyalty of individuals on their team will shift to the one empowered and some of the credit they had enjoyed will also be credited to their empowered teammate. Read 1 Samuel 18:7-29.
The people of Israel had been cruelly oppressed by Philistine rule. Israel’s King Saul and the nation of Israel desperately needed a victory over the Philistine Army. The Philistine soldier Goliath, a nine foot tall Olympic quality athlete/soldier, had single-handedly held Israel’s army at bay for weeks with his daily challenge for one-on-one combat with any Israelite soldier to decide the outcome of the war. King Saul offered a huge reward to the leader that would fight and defeat Goliath.
There were no takers.
David, the anointed future king of Israel, arrived at the battle front with some food from home for his brothers just as Goliath issued his morning challenge insulting the Israelite army and Israel’s God. After Goliath’s challenge when no Israelite soldier would step forward, David heard of the reward Saul was offering to the man who fought and defeated Goliath. Motivated by great confidence in God and a desire to receive the reward, David fought and killed Goliath and as part of Saul’s reward, he empowered David to be a leader in Israel.
It did not take Saul long to realize what it means to have another empowered, popular leader in Israel. Some of the people, many of the soldiers and Jonathan, Saul’s own son, became one in spirit with David. King Saul clearly recognized David as a mighty warrior, valuable team member, an obedient servant, a favored man, and an effective leader. Saul also clearly saw David as a potential successor and threat. Saul’s insecurity drove him to turn against David. Insecurity can drive a leader to do stupid and self-sabotaging things to the very people that could make their team successful.
Virtually every leader will face similar emotions when they empower a future leader and their teammate succeeds. Effective godly leaders will not make the same mistakes Saul made but will embrace the success of the empowered teammate.
Are you able to rejoice with a teammate you empowered who succeeds and achieves a higher level in the organizational chart than your position? It takes a leader with great character to empower a subordinate and then rejoice when they have success that eclipses your own.
Write a paragraph of commitment to resist jealousy of successful team members.
Leaders that are honest with themselves inherently understand that some of the loyalty of individuals on their team will shift to the one empowered and some of the credit they had enjoyed will also be credited to their empowered teammate. Read 1 Samuel 18:7-29.
The people of Israel had been cruelly oppressed by Philistine rule. Israel’s King Saul and the nation of Israel desperately needed a victory over the Philistine Army. The Philistine soldier Goliath, a nine foot tall Olympic quality athlete/soldier, had single-handedly held Israel’s army at bay for weeks with his daily challenge for one-on-one combat with any Israelite soldier to decide the outcome of the war. King Saul offered a huge reward to the leader that would fight and defeat Goliath.
There were no takers.
David, the anointed future king of Israel, arrived at the battle front with some food from home for his brothers just as Goliath issued his morning challenge insulting the Israelite army and Israel’s God. After Goliath’s challenge when no Israelite soldier would step forward, David heard of the reward Saul was offering to the man who fought and defeated Goliath. Motivated by great confidence in God and a desire to receive the reward, David fought and killed Goliath and as part of Saul’s reward, he empowered David to be a leader in Israel.
It did not take Saul long to realize what it means to have another empowered, popular leader in Israel. Some of the people, many of the soldiers and Jonathan, Saul’s own son, became one in spirit with David. King Saul clearly recognized David as a mighty warrior, valuable team member, an obedient servant, a favored man, and an effective leader. Saul also clearly saw David as a potential successor and threat. Saul’s insecurity drove him to turn against David. Insecurity can drive a leader to do stupid and self-sabotaging things to the very people that could make their team successful.
Virtually every leader will face similar emotions when they empower a future leader and their teammate succeeds. Effective godly leaders will not make the same mistakes Saul made but will embrace the success of the empowered teammate.
Are you able to rejoice with a teammate you empowered who succeeds and achieves a higher level in the organizational chart than your position? It takes a leader with great character to empower a subordinate and then rejoice when they have success that eclipses your own.
Write a paragraph of commitment to resist jealousy of successful team members.
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