Inspiration & Paradox 52: Compassion and Accountability

I just read this article on "Compassion Paradox"which I see many people wrestle with as they manage their subordinates.

The dilemma or struggle to show emphathy or to demand accountabilty with the right person and at the right time can be a skill which comes with some experience. Many people are either expert at holding people accountable or great at showing compassion. Learning to be excellent at both is key to becoming an effective leader. People who are comfortable with accountability view compassion as too "soft". And, people who are comfortable with compassion see accountability as too "hard". The paradoxical truth is that neither extreme is either "soft" or "hard". They are simply different responses to different leadership situations. You cannot be too soft if you want to be compassionate. Similarly, you cannot be too hard if you want accountabilty.