Leaders drive performance through force of will and decisiveness. But, to be impactful, they must balance head and heart. Let’s discuss a leader who cares.
How did I get here?
As a leader, you may have heard “You’re not listening to me!”
Our knee-jerk response is “How did I get here?” We become defensive. Or worse yet, argumentative.
It’s good to be driven by purpose and passion, but we must not forget people.
We want to be viewed as a leader who cares.
But, our focus on metrics and deadlines doesn’t leave much room for expressing empathy or slowing down so others can express deep needs.
Where do I lead from?
Accomplishing strategy and market-driven goals mean that we often lead from the head.
That focus is good for quarterly reports, but may not be good for the emotional and physical needs of direct reports.
Somehow there must be balance between head and heart. Between metrics and meaning.
It’s near-sighted to measure our value-added solely in terms of financials. Thus, success measured to the exclusion of human needs.
Truly, a leader who cares balances those two traits.
The Precept
Jeremiah 23.1-5 is a condemnation of spiritual leaders – pastors or rabbis or priests – who don’t shepherd their flock.
That lack of shepherding scatters the flock of worshippers. The Hebrew word Jeremiah uses as “pastor” or “shepherd” in 23.1 repeats in 23.4.
The writer is focusing on one aspect of the duties of a shepherd. That is, caring for the congregation.
The shepherd cares through outlets such as counseling, showing empathy, expressing concern, and providing practical assistance to them.
This shepherd picture applies equally as well to leaders, according to Numbers 27.15-17.
Poor leadership produces scattering, as described in First Kings 22.17 and Ezekiel 34.1-5.
A good shepherd, as in John 10.11, hence a caring leader, restores others emotionally. See Psalm 23.3 “…He restores my soul.”
In short, a caring leader acts as an encourager by speaking from his or her heart, to the hearts of others.
Apply This Today!
The shepherd analogy pushes leaders to seek a head-heart balance.
A head-only leadership style produces an organization with members who are wanting. Who feel unrestored after interacting with that head-only leader.
Ok, but can we fix cluelessness? It’s not impossible IF the leader is willing to listen and then respond appropriately to what he or she is hearing.
One take-away here for leaders: Don’t be clueless! Stop being defensive! Learn to listen.
I’m Dale Young. My posts share the balanced life to build wise character and guide wise behavior.
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