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Rick Warren posted this tweet this morning that has me thinking: “Be as much troubled by unjust praise, as by unjust slander.” – Philip Henry
Some of my thoughts:
- Everybody loves, and to a certain degree needs, a “good job, buddy” now and then. So encouragement is valuable.
- As a leader, a whole lot of the “good job, buddy” comments you hear are really because of what somebody on your team did…you just happen to get the praise.
- The “higher up” you are, the more “back slaps” you have had along the way and the more you need to dish out to others on their way up.
- It’s interesting how many back slaps and “good job buddy”statements are at the expense of somebody else: “you are doing a much better job than our previous youth pastor”, says a parent. Or “You’re way nicer than our last small group leader, says a student”.
- The source of the praise is usually a pretty good indicator of how valid it is. Do they have something to gain by slapping your back or is it because they have your best interest in mind?
- As for the quote itself…OUCH! I’m embarrassed by how bothered I get by unjust criticism while unjust praise serves to feed my ego.
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