Brene Brown is one of those authors who undoes me. How’s this from Brene?
“Leaders must invest a reasonable amount of time attending to the fears and feelings [of their people], or squander an unreasonable amount of time trying to manage ineffective and unproductive behaviour.”
PICTURE: Marcus Spiske/Unsplash
Wow. I just want people to be mature. Grow up, get over stuff. Carry your own burdens. But I know if I don’t pay attention to my people – that is care for my employees, students, staff, team, congregation. I’m going to have more work putting out fires and fixing problems because of their anxiety.
Leaders give direction and protection. Those things can be paradoxical at times – comforting the distressed, and distressing the comfortable.
In your family – as mum or dad, brother or sister – how can you comfort others early so you don’t need comfort later?
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.
