Photo: Pexels
Photo: Pexels

Share the Credit

Because we do not do everything, we cannot take all the credit. We need to give credit to whom credit is due.

Themes July 10, 2017

My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.  Psalm 131:1

God gave us two hands because He doesn’t want us to carry home the laurels all by ourselves. Because we do not do everything, we cannot take all the credit. We need to give credit to whom credit is due.

John Maxwell reminds leaders: “Great things can happen when you don’t care who gets the credit. I believe the greatest things happen only when you give others the credit.” Coach Bear Bryant also shares his secret: “If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then we did it. If anything goes real good, they did it.”

Some leaders think their public image will diminish when they share or give away the glory to others. They lure themselves to the self-defeating idea that they must project an I-know-it-all, I-can-do-it-all image to gain respect and admiration. On the contrary, I think this counsel on friendship also holds true to leadership: “Our friends love us not for our strengths but for our flaws.” Our flaws make us truly human and being human makes us interesting and, sometimes, lovable. So, leaders, loosen up. To laugh at ourselves and our mistakes is to be human. To know that we are human is to know that we are not God. Because to attempt to be God is like Lucifer and the cause of every heavy fall.

In his book The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, Maxwell points out: “One is too small a number to achieve greatness.” By contrast, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, boasted: “’Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?’ The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone wishes’” (Daniel 4:30-32). It came to pass as the Lord had said.

From his experience, Nebuchadnezzar had an insight we all could learn from: “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever…. Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:34, 37). Leaders, don’t take all the credit. In any success, you did not do it alone. Give credit to whom credit is due.


Note: Article written and posted in English

Author

Arceli Rosario

Arceli Rosario, PhD, Chair, Education Department, Graduate School, Adventist International Institute of Adventist Studies, Philippines.

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