Good leaders know how to shift from logic to empathy.
Case in point: after my daughter’s situation had been resolved, I decided to ask my wife for the details. Instead of sharing what I wanted to hear, she told me that I was essentially too logical for moments like that. She’s correct, and my decision to leave the room made more sense. This was not a logical moment; nothing about my daughter’s sudden mood change was logical, and Daddy’s method of problem-solving might’ve closed our daughter off to help entirely. The moment required compassion and a listening ear, and who better than my wife to help her sort through those feelings.
Lesson: Adapt your approach to fit the emotional needs of the moment. An approach that worked for one situation, may not be the right method for a present-day matter.
Final Takeaway from Part 1 & 2: Stepping back allows others to exercise their strengths, and accepting your own limitations allows the right emotional response to be applied in the moment.