{"id":175,"date":"2015-10-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-10-22T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/send-network\/resource\/thick-skin-tender-hearts-and-four-types-of-leaders\/"},"modified":"2020-06-21T22:16:19","modified_gmt":"2020-06-22T02:16:19","slug":"thick-skin-tender-hearts-and-four-types-of-leaders","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/send-network\/resource\/thick-skin-tender-hearts-and-four-types-of-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Thick Skin, Tender Hearts, and Four Types of Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"
Don’t miss\u00a0our iPad giveaway! Click here to check out Monday’s post for details.<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n

This piece by Eric Geiger is so spot on for leaders especially for spiritual leaders. Most of us struggle with the conflicting tensions of having thick skin yet remaining tender. This was originally posted\u00a0from his blog<\/a> which is an exceptional resource for leaders.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Leaders are often applauded for and encouraged to develop \u201cthick skin.\u201d A leader with \u201cthick skin\u201d is not crushed by criticism nor destroyed by disappointing results. The pain, the criticism, the challenges seem to \u201croll-off\u201d the leader\u2019s skin without seeping into the leader\u2019s heart. While a leader with \u201cthin skin\u201d is often paralyzed by challenges or criticism, a leader with \u201cthick skin\u201d is able to handle adversity, push through challenges, and continue to lead in the midst of a difficult season.<\/p>\n

In the same way, people long for and benefit from a leader with a \u201ctender heart.\u201d A leader with a tender heart is sensitive to others, wants the best for them, rejoices when they rejoice, and mourns when they mourn. A leader with a \u201ctender heart\u201d cares deeply for the people he\/she serves alongside.<\/p>\n

Is it even possible for a leader to have both, to possess thick skin and a tender heart? Those two are often painted as contrary to one another, as if a leader must choose between being \u201cthick-skinned\u201d and \u201ctender-hearted.\u201d But a leader must not choose between the two. The best leaders are both.<\/p>\n

With regards to thick skin and tender hearts, here are four types of leaders. Which type of leader are you?<\/p>\n

\"fourtypesofleaders\"<\/p>\n

Thick Skin\/<\/strong>Tough Heart<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Some leaders are able to ignore criticism and push through disappointment because they really don\u2019t care. They don\u2019t care about people at all. They are apathetic to the commitments they have made. They are able to go to sleep through challenges because they have no passion. Some leaders have \u201cthick skin\u201d because their hearts are calloused.<\/p>\n

Thin Skin<\/strong>\/Tough Heart<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Some leaders cannot handle criticism or even godly rebukes from others, and yet they dole it out exponentially more than they receive. They are narcissistic, and a narcissistic leader is easily hurt but never concerned about hurting others. They have thin skin because their worth is connected to their name and renown, but their hearts are cold and calloused to others. They care infinitely more about their reputation than they care about those they want a reputation for serving.<\/p>\n

Thin Skin\/Tender Heart<\/strong><\/h5>\n

A leader with a tender heart is compassionate, loving, and focused on people. Their concern for others\u2019 feelings can, at times, result in thin skin. Because they want the best for people, they can easily move into foolishly thinking everyone can be happy at all times. Leaders with a tender heart and thin skin can become a slave to the opinion of others and ultimately fail to lead with conviction.<\/p>\n

Thick Skin\/Tender Heart<\/strong><\/h5>\n

A leader with both<\/em> thick skin and a tender heart is one who loves people but does not find his\/her identity in what people think of him\/her. A leader with thick skin and a tender heart is trustworthy and effective, compassionate and focused. This leader sees no contradiction between conviction and compassion, between thick skin and a tender heart. Such a leader is rare, too rare. We benefit greatly from following leaders with thick skin and tender hearts. Thick skin is a great asset for a leader, unless it is the result of a calloused heart. Thick skin combined with a tender heart results in passionate and compassionate leadership.<\/p>\n

How can we have both<\/em> tender hearts and thick skin? How can we be this type of leader?<\/p>\n

Only by following Jesus.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Only by following Jesus can you love people and<\/em> not be crushed if they don\u2019t love you. For this type of leader, thick skin is the result of security, worth, and identity placed in the Lord and not in people. If our identity is in Him, we are not destroyed when our leadership is questioned, when people we serve don\u2019t appreciate our service. At the same time, we are not aloof or calloused toward people because the Lord has our heart, and loving and trusting Him always results in a tender and compassionate heart for people.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t choose between thick skin and a tender heart. As a leader, you need both. But only by walking daily with the Lord can a leader have thick skin and a tender heart.<\/p>\n

Which type of leader are you?<\/h6>\n
\n

\"eric-geiger\"Eric Geiger serves as one of the Vice Presidents at\u00a0LifeWay Christian Resources<\/a>, leading the Resources Division.\u00a0Eric received his doctorate in leadership and church ministry from\u00a0Southern Seminary<\/a>. He is also a teaching pastor and a frequent speaker and consultant on church mission and strategy. Eric has authored or co-authored\u00a0several books<\/a>\u00a0including the best selling church leadership book,\u00a0Simple Church.<\/em><\/p>\n

Eric is married to Kaye, and they have two daughters: Eden and Evie. During his free time, Eric enjoys dating his wife, playing with his daughters, and shooting basketball.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Don’t miss\u00a0our iPad giveaway! Click here to check out Monday’s post for details. This piece by …<\/p>\n

Thick Skin, Tender Hearts, and Four Types of Leaders<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":176,"template":"","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"content-type":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"tags":[],"channels":[159],"topics":[164,9],"languages":[],"class_list":["post-175","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","resource_type-article","channels-planter-wives","topics-leadership-planter-wives","topics-planter-wives"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThick Skin, Tender Hearts, and Four Types of Leaders - Send Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/send-network\/resource\/thick-skin-tender-hearts-and-four-types-of-leaders\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Thick Skin, Tender Hearts, and Four Types of Leaders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Don’t miss\u00a0our iPad giveaway! 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