Gentle Practices for Leaders
Principle Highlight: Small, deliberate steps build covenant safety.
Covenant safety grows through deliberate, small steps:
- Affirm the bond first: Open hard talks with, “Our relationship holds strong through this.”
- Receive before responding: Ask, “What truth here can I own?” before defending.
- Leverage their fire: Like Lincoln, assign critics to key roles where their edge contributes to the mission.
- Bridge with grace: Adapt communication to DISC styles—logic for C, warmth for I—while staying authentic.
Weekly Challenge: Identify your team’s “Zophar voices”—those who rush to shut down dialogue. Relax into one tense conversation, note DISC reactions, affirm relational security, and observe how tension can fuel clarity and growth.
“Covenant leadership doesn’t erase tension—it transforms it into the very soil where teams flourish.”
Gentle Practices for Leaders
Principle Highlight: Small, deliberate steps build covenant safety.
Covenant safety grows through deliberate, small steps:
- Affirm the bond first: Open hard talks with, “Our relationship holds strong through this.”
- Receive before responding: Ask, “What truth here can I own?” before defending.
- Leverage their fire: Like Lincoln, assign critics to key roles where their edge contributes to the mission.
- Bridge with grace: Adapt communication to DISC styles—logic for C, warmth for I—while staying authentic.
Weekly Challenge: Identify your team’s “Zophar voices”—those who rush to shut down dialogue. Relax into one tense conversation, note DISC reactions, affirm relational security, and observe how tension can fuel clarity and growth.
“Covenant leadership doesn’t erase tension—it transforms it into the very soil where teams flourish.”
Reflection Questions
Principle Highlight: Engage your own leadership growth.
- What would change in your leadership if people knew your relationship could survive any conversation?
- How does your tension about “difficult people” actually create more difficulty?
- What would it look like to lead with Lincoln’s confident relaxation rather than Zophar’s anxious control?
- Which DISC styles in your organization might perceive your leadership as threatening even when you intend support?
References
AI-CIO. (2017, October 3). CIO exclusive—Ray Dalio: Establishing my principles. https://www.ai-cio.com/news/cio-exclusive-ray-dalio-establishing-principles/
Bible Hub. (n.d.). 7230. רֹב (rob) — Abundance, multitude, greatness, plenty. http://biblehub.com/hebrew/7230.htm
Boston Consulting Group (BCG). (2024, January 4). Leaders who prioritize psychological safety can reduce attrition risk. https://www.bcg.com/press/4january2024-psychological-safety-reduce-attrition-risk
Clark, T. R. (2020). The 4 stages of psychological safety: Defining the path to inclusion and innovation. LeaderFactor.
Dalio, R. (as cited in AI-CIO, 2017). CIO exclusive—Ray Dalio: Establishing my principles. https://www.ai-cio.com/news/cio-exclusive-ray-dalio-establishing-principles/
Harvard Business Review (HBR). (2017, October 9). Radical transparency can reduce bias—But only if it’s done right. https://hbr.org/2017/10/radical-transparency-can-reduce-bias-but-only-if-its-done-right
Leonimichael Consulting. (2024). Maxwell method DISC assessment & reports.https://www.leonimichaelconsulting.com/disc-behavioral-assessments-and-reports
Library of Congress. (2009). The Abraham Lincoln bicentennial exhibition: A team of rivals.https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/lincoln/a-team-of-rivals.html
Niagara Institute. (2023, August 21). 30+ psychological safety at work stats.https://www.niagarainstitute.com/blog/psychological-safety-at-work
StudyLight.org. (2025, April 20). Verse-by-verse Bible commentary Job 11:2.https://www.studylight.org/commentary/job/11-2.html
