Can You Score Like Your Predecessor?

Proving Yourself as the New Leader

Growing up immersed in sports, I encountered a variety of playing styles. Some players thrived on trash talk, their boisterous presence felt both on and off the court. They made sure everyone knew they were there, using their words as much as their skills to approach the game. Then there were the silent assassins, players who let their performance do the talking. Their prowess was quietly displayed, letting the scoreboard deliver the loudest messages.

I always resonated with the latter style. Never one to boast or verbally taunt my opponents, I preferred to let my actions speak for themselves. My philosophy was simple: show, don’t tell. Success and skill should be evident through performance, not proclaimed with words.

This approach not only shaped my athletic mindset but also deeply influenced my perspective on leadership.

As a ReLeader, when you take over an organization, all eyes are on you—watching, waiting, and wondering if you can “put points on the board.” You inherit the legacy of your predecessor, whether they were a star player or someone who left the team in disarray. You might find yourself following in the footsteps of a highly celebrated leader, tasked with continuing a legacy of success without missing a beat. Alternatively, you could be stepping into a turnaround situation where the previous leader faltered, and your job is to stabilize and rebuild. Either way, the pressure is on you to put numbers on the board to bring the victory.

Whether it is verbalized or not, this is what everyone in your organization is asking:

As the new leader, can you “put points on the board” without Lebron James (your predecessor)?

Do you feel that pressure? I certainly did. Today I want to encourage you with three things to remember as you take the “court” in your ReLeading endeavors.

Determine What a “Score” is for Your Organization

In basketball, scoring is clear-cut: it's about getting the ball through the hoop. Each shot made is a tangible step toward victory. But outside of sports, defining what constitutes a "score" can be less straightforward. What does success look like in your particular arena?

Consider the "game" you're playing. Whether you're at the helm of a small business, a nonprofit, or another type of organization, recognizing what counts as a win is crucial. It's all too easy to get bogged down in the details and forget the ultimate goal—much like overlooking the need to simply put the ball in the hoop.

For example, if you're running a small business, perhaps a “score” is landing five new clients each week. If you're leading a nonprofit, it could involve changing a life, saving a marriage, or feeding the hungry. For a university or educational institution, a “score” might be educating, equipping, and releasing a student into their career or calling.

I recently worked with a church leadership team to define their "scores." Through this exercise, we pinpointed immediate actions they could take to demonstrate to their community their capability to achieve wins.

Why is this important? If you don’t know what a “score” is in your organization, you will have a hard time winning this game.

Don’t talk about it, put the ball in the hole and prove it.

Scoreboards Matter

My son plays basketball, and at every game, there's always a moment when the volunteer scorekeeper—sometimes that's me—forgets to update the scoreboard. When this happens, the crowd doesn't hesitate to remind us. After all, what's the point of scoring if nobody sees the points reflected on the board?

Whether on the basketball court or in a leadership role, you can be winning, but without a visible scoreboard, no one can recognize or celebrate the victory.

Revisiting the church's leadership team I discussed previously, I continued to support them through a series of discovery sessions. As we explored their activities, it became evident that they were not only meeting their goals but frequently surpassing them. Despite these successes, their accomplishments were largely unrecognized by the congregation due to insufficient communication. The issue wasn’t a lack of achievement but rather a challenge in effectively sharing their successes on the scoreboard. The congregation was eager to see if this team could still “put points on the board” without their "LeBron" (the former pastor). As it turned out, they were not only meeting but exceeding expectations with some of their best performances to date!

It’s not enough to put the ball in the hole, make sure it’s being communicated to your constituencies.

Layups are Better Than Steph Curry 3’s

When I first stepped in as the Lead Pastor at Victory Church, there was palpable curiosity about whether my team and I could "put the ball in the hole." I found myself grappling with that same question. The easy route would have been to talk—to highlight what was wrong, to critique my predecessor, to defend my own position. Every leader is tempted to use words as a shield—defending themselves, making excuses, offering explanations. However, I quickly learned that talk is cheap. Mastering three-pointers took time, but we were certainly capable of making layups right from the start.

We redirected our attention to salvations, consistently communicating these successes to our volunteers and core church members each week. This strategy enabled us to demonstrate to the congregation that, even amid trauma and hardships, we were still scoring where it counts. True, some people had left, our donations were lower, and challenges lay ahead, but we continued to make meaningful progress. We might not have been sinking deep three-pointers, but we were definitely making our layups!

Every organization has these accessible, straightforward goals. What are yours? You might not be ready to sink Steph Curry three-pointers, but you can start scoring. The three-pointers will come, today just make a layup.

Final Thoughts

You'll always find voices doubting your success, especially in the shadow of your predecessor. But remember, you have been divinely empowered, called, and equipped for this moment. Now is your time to lead, to score, and to celebrate victories. You were made for this.

Put the right people on the court with you, clearly define what a "score" looks like for your organization, and get to work. Remember, eloquent words alone won't move the ball forward; only strategic, diligent action will. Talk less, act more. Stop discussing and start doing.

What about you? What comments would you add?