By: Lee Bickerstaff

Position Paper

Question: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, “A team member’s job is to make the leader look good”? Explain your reasoning.

This is a bit of a trick question. Ultimately, every team member’s primary responsibility is not to make a human leader look good, but to make Jesus look good.

Scripture consistently reminds us that our lives, work, and relationships are meant to point to Christ and glorify God:

• 2 Corinthians 5:20a: “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.”

• Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

• Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

• 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

• Colossians 1:10: The goal is to live “in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work.”

• 1 Peter 2:21: “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

From this perspective, the defining purpose of any team member is faithfulness to Christ, not image management for a leader.

However, as a secondary and less-defining responsibility, I do believe that a team member should seek to help their leader succeed, which can reasonably include “making the leader look good” in the right sense. Scripture offers support for this posture as well:

• Matthew 20:26b–28: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant… For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.”

• Hebrews 13:17: “Obey your leaders and submit to them… Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

• Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

• Ephesians 5:1–2: “Be imitators of God… and walk in love, as Christ loved us.”

• James 3:16: “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”

• Luke 12:15: “Beware of covetousness.”

Leaders such as team leaders, directors, and vice presidents carry not only the weight of their own roles but also the responsibility for entire teams, departments, or ministries. They are often the public face of the organization. As someone serving in operations, I have seen firsthand that anything I do to support my Executive Director’s effectiveness ultimately benefits the whole ministry.

When my leader has efficient systems, timely and accurate data, a clear and well-managed budget, and fewer distractions related to technology, legal matters, or information management, she is better positioned to represent the ministry well. When she meets partners, speaks at events, or networks with organizational leaders, that preparedness builds trust and credibility, whether or not that was my explicit intention. Recognizing this reality, it makes sense to make it one of my intentions.

Additionally, intentionally seeking my leader’s success guards my own heart. Left unchecked, my sinful nature might be tempted to covet her role, influence, or visibility, even subtly wishing for her failure to create opportunity for myself. Choosing instead to love my leader, serve her well, and desire her success more than my own confronts that temptation directly. In doing so, Christ is honored, my heart is protected, and the ministry is positioned to bear greater fruit.

So, is a team member’s job to make the leader look good? Ultimately, no, our job is to glorify Christ. But when serving our leaders with humility, excellence, and integrity contributes to that greater purpose, helping a leader “look good” can be a faithful and Christ-honoring expression of service.