Here’s another insight I learned from Rescue House pastor Matt Hudson in Mocksville, NC, at a leadership conference when he shared 7 Things a Boss Wants to Say to You:

“I love it when you receive responsibility with joy.”

Last week, I shared Matt’s idea that “responsibility is a reward, not a right.” Using that logic, it stands to reason that being assigned additional responsibility should be joyful. But leaders don’t always experience this.

Sometimes, new responsibility evokes fear. Immediate concerns arise about whether we can handle the new load and guarantee success. No one wants to fail, and this fear causes trepidation. Fear communicates reluctance.

Other times, new responsibility triggers self-preservation. How will this affect me? What will it cost? Will it move me out of my comfort zone? This mindset communicates hesitancy.

When conferring new responsibility, a boss isn’t worried about the task going undone. They see your ability to take on greater things. Your contributions have inspired their trust. They don’t think you’re not enough—more so, they’re excited to see what you will do with it.

A boss wants to see enthusiasm and joy when handing over new responsibilities. Growth and change don’t happen when we drag people kicking and screaming into the future.

-Howe Q. Wallace Jr