Truth and Empathy
September 15, 2023
I’ve been walking with a wise friend lately. We shared some of our struggles in our leadership roles. We’ve both been in positions where we needed to address behavior that needed to be changed. Who wants to be the one to hear that! Truth was required. And our position meant that we be the truth teller. She reminded me that truth must be accompanied with empathy.
Truth plus empathy immediately gives any leader a servant hearted, love covered voice. How many times has God gently corrected me, given me another chance, loved me with a tenderness I did not deserve?
For those of us who dislike conflict–which may be a part of the truth telling process, empathy is oil on the waters. Truth plus empathy, that’s how Jesus led.