Be Yourself

The first job I had out of college was as a high school Spanish teacher. It was either by a great stroke of luck or Divine Providence that I was the replacement for a substitute teacher who hardly spoke a word of Spanish. In spite of being a nervous first-year teacher with no real classroom experience, compared to that substitute teacher, I felt like a Spanish genius! Ever since then, though, I’ve not been so ‘lucky’. In fact, in every new teaching position and church music job thereafter, I’ve followed some very accomplished musicians, and if you’ve ever struggled with self-confidence, that situation can be very intimidating.

When faced with this reality, I’ve found it helpful to consider the things you can control and those that you can’t.  

Other People's Perceptions

You are not your predecessor.  Even if you’re called to fill the same position as someone else, your unique set of gifts and personality will ultimately dictate how you carry out your duties. Embrace this reality and speak about it openly. Remember that you have been chosen to serve at this time and place, and trust that the ministry will be moved forward through your particular gifts.

People grow comfortable with what they’re familiar with.  Try as you may not to rock the boat, you’re different, and not everyone responds well to different right off the bat. If your predecessor was a great leader and musician, chances are most people were really comfortable with the way he or she did their job. If you stick around long enough and turn out to be a great fit for your ministry, someday someone else will take your spot and have to live in your shadow for a while, too. Remember that this is a natural process, and in time, you will feel established and comfortable in your leadership.

Sometimes people are grieving.  Like I said in the beginning, if you follow someone who was a complete failure, you’re automatically off to a pretty good start. But when really good people leave a ministry to serve somewhere else, they are dearly missed. Some people may initially try and befriend you in order to fill that loss, only to be disappointed that they don’t share the same kind of relationship with you that they had with the last music director. Some of the musicians may have enjoyed a position of influence based on their friendship with your predecessor and now feel somewhat resentful that they are no longer ‘on the inside’. If you teach high school and replace a well-loved director, some kids might immediately reject you because they think it would somehow be a betrayal of their loyalty to the previous director. Keep in mind that you are not responsible for healing people’s grief.  Acknowledge their feelings and affirm them. Most of all, remember that, over time, people will come to terms with that loss and be ready to move forward.

Your Perceptions

Know your strengths. I didn’t say boast and brag about them, just know what they are and let them serve as an affirmation that you are qualified to be here. There are skills you’ve been blessed with that might not be obvious to people this new place of ministry, and there will probably be some people that will initially assume you’re ‘not as good’ as the last person. That’s okay.  You’re different, and the full value of your ministry leadership will not necessarily be apparent right off the bat. Focus on doing what you do best, stay humble, and stick with it.

Know your weaknesses.  I believe this is critical part of any leadership position. Do you know where your greatest deficiencies lie? Try and find the right people in your ministry to help supplement your leadership in areas where you are lacking. Rounding up support will help you succeed, and being cognizant of your weaknesses will help you better understand how your leadership will be different from your predecessor, who may have been very effective in an area with which you are not naturally gifted.

Know Who made you.  I had a teacher in high school that made all of his students memorize this phrase: I am a unique child of God, full of potential. It’s true. There will be times when you lack confidence, feel inadequate, and question why you ever ended up here. But even in your weakness, God shines through. Just be yourself.