Don't Embarrass Me Publicly and I Won't Embarrass You Publicly

When I was a college basketball player, I played in many games. But there was one game I'll never forget. I'd been playing poorly in a game and my coach, Dean Smith, took me out. When I reached the sidelines, I slammed my towel on the floor. Coach Smith quietly approached me, the game continuing. He knelt before me and asked, "Did you slam that towel on the floor because you were upset with me for taking you out of the game, or because you made some bad mistakes and didn't play well?" I responded with the latter - because I hadn't played well at all. That's when he said these words to me, "Never embarrass me publicly and I won't embarrass you publicly." It's a leadership and relationship lesson I've never forgotten. After that game, any questions or problems I had, I would go to Coach Smith and talk them out privately. Between coach and player. And I'd leave the office better informed and with our relationship still intact. It was a way I learned to honor my leader as we honored one another (Romans 12:10).