Do you encourage those on your team who demonstrate positive behavior? (202-1)

Skilled leaders encourage their team by recognizing their contributions. Read Mark 12:41-44.

Jesus was in Jerusalem in what would be the last few days of His earth-bound life. During those days He spent some time in the Temple interacting with the people. On one of those occasions He was watching people put their offering into the treasury box. When Jesus saw a poor woman drop in two coins that would not equal a penny, but were all she had to live on, He called His disciples to Him and pointed out this woman’s sacrificial gift, giving her a great compliment. Jesus understood the importance of celebrating other’s sacrifices.

No team would function without the sacrifices of the team members. The wise leader will recognize their teammate’s contribution which will encourage the entire team. Few leadership functions are more important to a team because encouragement brings real motivation to a team. Second Thessalonians 2:16-17 says, “May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” Because God loves us, He is pleased to encourage us.

Encouragement is generally as simple as recognizing right behavior. I grew up on a dairy farm back in the day when cows spent time each day in a pasture. Some of those cows demonstrated a behavior my father wanted to encourage in the herd. Some cows knew when it was milking time and would automatically leave the pasture about half an hour before they needed to be back at the barn. Since most cows are natural followers and desire to stay in a herd, my father hung a bell around the neck of one of these lead cows so the others would know when she was leaving the pasture. This one cow doing the right thing had attention drawn to her good behavior by the bell and the others all followed.

Do you encourage those on your team who demonstrate behavior you would like to see within the entire team? Do you find very natural ways to point out their achievements and behavior to the team? When others follow the lead of those you have encouraged do you find ways to acknowledge that behavior as well? Jesus was sincere in His praise of the woman who sacrificially gave the two small coins and by drawing attention to this woman’s gift He encouraged sacrifice in the lives of His disciples. Wise leaders find ways to encourage teammates for attitudes and actions that will make the entire team better.