The Secret of Compassion is Boundaries
Leadership is hardest when compassion matters most.
Indifference is easy.
The hardest challenges require a tender heart.
Challenges that Require Compassion
Challenges tempt you to close your heart.
- Confronting.
- Correcting.
- Holding people accountable to their talent and aspirations.
- Seeing through excuses.
- Helping others become greater than yourself.
- Addressing topics others would like to sweep under the carpet.
- Delegating authority while maintaining responsibility.
How do you have a tender heart when leadership gets hard?
Compassion Needs Boundaries
You can’t solve every problem. The secret to tenderness is boundaries.
An inability to set boundaries leads to isolation. I’ve closed my heart because I assumed I couldn’t solve the whole problem.
Compassionate leaders focus on what they can do. And explain what they can’t or won’t do.
- Give second chances and maintain high standards. “The best single question for testing an organization’s character is: What happens when people make mistakes?” Bob Sutton
- Allow people to face and solve the consequences of their mistakes. Be helpful without enabling incompetence.
- Affirm the good while dealing with the bad.
- Bring up tough issues optimistically.
Healthy boundaries sustain a tender heart.
What prevents leaders from having an open heart?
How might leaders show tenderness during touch challenges?
This is so beneficial… in people centered businesses – ministry, education, youth organizations, etc. compassion is often the beginning of connection. As that connection grows compassion can lead to dependence without boundaries No question that our hearts energize out direction, but the intersection of emotions and actions can get dicey… boundaries channel the energy/momentum in appropriate paths. Your post provokes a lot of thoughts… thank you.
This is very helpful this morning. We have two major incidents that are as big a blunders as you can make in my industry. One happened over the weekend. Two careers are at stake, along with reputation, and all of the personal and professional fallout. Thanks Dan!