THE ORIGINAL SOURCE FOR WOMEN'S LEADERS SINCE 2001

Accepting Praise as a Women's Ministry Leader

Julia Bettencourt

March 2015

Here are nine things to help you to learn to graciously accept praise.

1. Let others praise you. Don’t praise yourself.

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. Proverbs 27:2 (KJV)

2. Always be ready to give credit where it is due.

3. Include others in your response.

If it is dealing with women’s ministry, you probably had a lot of help.

Example Response: “Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without [name helpers or team name]. They really worked hard.”

When you share the credit, it doesn’t mean that you didn’t work hard too or perhaps sometimes harder than your team, but good leaders share the compliments and praise no matter who worked the hardest.

4. Don’t contradict or minimize the compliments or praise.

Avoid saying things like, “It wasn’t as good as I wanted.” Or “It could have been better.”

5. Accept praise graciously.

Don’t fluster. Learn to take a compliment in a gracious way.

6. Give praise to the Lord when accepting praise for accomplishments in women’s ministry.

Remember Who you are serving.

Example Response: “Thank you for the encouragement. I’m praising the Lord for what He has done through [whatever the project or appreciating is for].”

7. Thank the person giving praise or compliments.

Let them know that you appreciate them and the encouragement that they have given you.

8. Don’t read into someone’s motive for praising your work or actions.

9. Don’t let it go to your head.

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18, 19 (KJV)