For some this is hard to accept. For others it isn't an issue. What we're talking about here is you. Take this quick quiz

• Do you allow others to succeed?
• Do you accept thanks for work in your areas?
• Do you publicly honour your team members individually?
• Do you pass on compliments within 24 hours?
• Do you wander about and give recognition spontaneously?

There are many other questions I could ask here - but I think you are getting the idea.
You need to act as a praise magnifier, a compliment doubler!

As a leader you can't afford to hold any compliments or points of recognition for yourself - you MUST pass them straight on.

It's really easy if you learn my law of recognition

"Any compliment or point of recognition for an individual is as much that individuals as their leaders"

Let me translate that for you When they get a gold star - you also get the gold star!

Now - let me tell you how you can get a lot of gold stars.

Let the team earn and receive gold stars - they'll want to keep earning them - after all getting compliments and praise is fun! Therefore, by the law of recognition - you are also receiving those stars.

It's easy to do too When a parent or pastor comes to thanks me for the work we are doing with their children I always say something like "Thanks, Cmdr Klein (or whoever their leader is) has been putting in a lot of hard work with James (or child's name)"

The quick flick past.

Then I make it a point to immediately walk over to the leader in question and pass on the compliment. They beam, and put in double effort for the rest of the night. If the compliment was received out of program - I telephone them that night and pass on the remarks.

Sharing success is also easy.
You just need to be a bigger person.

Sometimes compliments are paid that are specific for me - as overall leader. For example "You are doing a fine job leading this program". Flick these down to your team as well. I would usually respond with something like "Well thanks, it is great fun - and my team is doing fantastic work and they're really growing" or something like that...

It's hard at first. We are often deprived of recognition so much - that we need every last ounce just to stay motivated ourselves. But remember the law of recognition "Any compliment or point of recognition for an individual is as much that individuals as their leaders"

The law says that recognition automatically doubles - one for you and on for the individual concerned. You can still receive and grow and be motivated from the compliment yourself - AND you can pass on the remark to the leader concerned and feed them too!

Action steps

• pass on recognition and compliments
• take on copy for yourself - and give the other to the leader
• if you don't have a compliment to pass on - make one up

Conclusion

Don't be scared of letting someone else succeed.
When they succeed you are succeeding too.
Be a big person.
Grow big people.

Result happy, willing, serving, motivated and enthusiastic teams.