Velvet-Covered Brick
"Good leaders possess both strength and sensitivity. They are tough and tender. They are soft on the outside (relational), but firm as a brick on the inside (principle-centered). Because they are emotionally secure, they're able to handle confrontation and conflict in a healthy way." (Tim Elmore, Habitudes #1) As leaders, we are called to have strength and compassion. It’s essential that we have the backbone to do hard things, even when they are unpopular. However, we shouldn’t be so hard and strong that we fail to notice when empathy is needed, and that we miss out on chances to connect with clients and co-workers. I totally understand that compassion fatigue is real, and that it can be difficult to have empathy and compassion with clients who continue to make the same poor decisions (which you then have to deal with) day after day. Even after just an hour of Bible study there are days in which I get to the point where I’m less compassionate than I should be, so ...
