Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17 (NKJV)
Leaders will always face the brunt of criticism. As John Maxwell puts it, “When you get kicked in the rear, you know you’re out in front.” It’s understandable that leaders will face criticism, but we can show our respect for a leader’s position even when our opinions differ. We can honour the position even when the leader makes mistakes.
However, honouring our leaders doesn’t mean that we don’t confront their mistakes. In fact, confrontation can communicate honour. I would even go so far as to say that you dishonour someone if you don’t voice your concerns. Confrontation, when done with the right motives, communicates that you care enough to say something.
Honour goes up, down and sideways—it doesn’t only apply to leadership. We can honour all of the people around us. When we do, we open ourselves up to learn from them and it also seems to make them more effective at whatever they do.
Humility always accompanies true greatness. We all crave to be honoured, but when we get our focus off who is honouring us, we can think about who we can honour instead. Truly successful people don’t fight to be noticed and honoured. They exude confidence by giving the credit to others when they deserve it. At the same time, they value their personal strengths and what they bring to the table. They know what they’re worth, but don’t shove it in your face.
What concerns you more: who is honouring you or who you can honour?