My son Danny at 6 ½ likes to ask questions. Some are funny: “Why is your beard connected to the hair on your head?” Some are factual: “When a baby is born, what do they eat?” And others are just gut-wrenching: “Will I see you in heaven?” Or, “Can we feel each other in heaven?” Another one he recently asked: “What’s stronger, concrete or steel?”
I set out to find the answer and discovered it depends on the type of force being applied. Concrete is exceptionally strong under compression, meaning it can withstand a lot of pressure without breaking. However, it is relatively weak when subjected to tension, or forces that cause it to stretch or shift. On the other hand, steel is much stronger under tension and can handle forces that cause it to bend, stretch, or shift far better than concrete.
This is why rebar is embedded within concrete. The combination allows structures to withstand both compression (handled by concrete) and tension or shifting forces (handled by steel), making the overall structure much more resilient.
Answering Danny’s question caused me to think about the types of strength required for leadership. We need resolve when we are challenged to handle compression or force, like concrete does. Confronting a daunting problem, staying up all night to study or work, or intently focusing on a project that strains our abilities all call for the unwavering strength of resolve, similar to the strength concrete demonstrates against compression.
On the other hand, resilience, like steel, is called upon when we have to respond to shifting, stretching, or bending. Abrupt changes in the direction of our dreams, stretching further than we believed possible for our missions, or withstanding tension in relationships with our people or in our families—these test us at a different level. These cause us to bend without breaking, like steel under the pressure of shifting forces or extreme tension.
In medical school and residency, I needed resolve, the concrete kind of strength. We endured 30-hour shifts and 8-hour exams, the kinds of pressures that demand dogged tenacity. On the other hand, when I faced an impending split in a long-term work partnership, it required resilience, the kind of strength that must bend and not break under immense pressure. This period of resilience in my life demanded more reflection and patience from me. Under fierce pressure, it required me to review my life goals and ask myself what really mattered.
Both kinds of strength are crucial to our leadership. We must develop ourselves in both areas to fortify our character just as rebar embedded in concrete fortifies the foundations of impressive structures. I humbly pray that our leadership demonstrates both resolve (like concrete) and resilience (like steel) to nimbly withstand intense forces of compression and unexpected shifts in direction that come our way.
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