QuoteProject
Be Hard on the issue, Soft on the person.
Henry Cloud
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Critique the problem without attacking the individual involved.

This quote emphasizes the importance of maintaining compassion and respect for individuals while addressing challenging issues or conflicts. It suggests that true leadership and effective problem-solving require us to focus on resolving the issue at hand, rather than letting personal feelings towards a person interfere with constructive dialogue and resolution.

Themes

LeadershipCommunicationConflict ResolutionRespectCritique

In practice

Example use cases

In a team meeting discussing project failures, use this quote to encourage a focus on solutions rather than blaming individuals.

More from Henry Cloud

Good pain is pain in the service of a purpose. Bad pain is pain endured because we are resisting a needed growth step.
Henry CloudRead
A good test of a relationship is how a person responds to the word 'no.' Love respects 'no,' control does not.
Henry CloudRead
When a child shuts down his painful emotional side, he also loses the ability to express his joyous side. Emotions are a whole. With anger comes the ability to express delight; with sadness comes the ability to express lightheartedness. This is the breadth of emotion that allows an adult to experience intimacy with a spouse, with God, and with his children
Henry CloudRead
One of the first signs that you’re beginning to develop boundaries is a sense of resentment, frustration, or anger at the subtle and not-so-subtle violations in your life. Just as radar signals the approach of a foreign missile, your anger can alert you to boundary violations in your life.
Henry CloudRead
The mature person meets the demands of life, while the immature person demands that life meet her demands.
Henry CloudRead
Things don't change in a marriage until the spouse who is taking responsibility for a problem that is not hers decides to say or do something about it.
Henry CloudRead

Similar quotes

How easy it is to govern when one follows a system of consulting the will of the people and one holds as the only norm all the actions which contribute to the well being of the people.
Che GuevaraRead
If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow them from behind.
LaoziRead
In order to cultivate a set of leaders with legitimacy in the eyes of the citizenry, it is necessary that the path to leadership be visibly open to talented and qualified individuals of every race and ethnicity.
Sandra Day O'ConnorRead
When you get to be President, there are all those things, the honors, the twenty-one gun salutes, all those things. You have to remember it isn't for you. It's for the Presidency.
Harry S. TrumanRead
The conservative values of limited government and freedom for all coincide with the movement for full freedom and equality for LGBT Americans.
Margaret HooverRead
I think the most important thing... is leadership. It's something that has been lacking in young women and girls for a very long time, not because we don't want to but because of what society has labeled women to be. I think we are the most powerful beings in the world and that we should be given every opportunity.
Zozibini TunziRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.