Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change

by Tod Bolsinger

Christian Book Award Finalist

What type of leadership is needed in a moment that demands adaptive change?

Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains, is uniquely positioned to explore the qualities of adaptive leadership in contexts ranging from churches to nonprofit organizations. He deftly examines both the external challenges we face and the internal resistance that holds us back.

Bolsinger "To temper describes the process of heating, holding, hammering, cooling, and reheating that adds stress to raw iron until it becomes a glistening knife blade or chisel tip." When reflection and relationships are combined into a life of deliberate practice, leaders become both stronger and more flexible. As a result, these resilient leaders are able to offer greater wisdom and skill to the organizations they serve.

Also Tempered Resilience Study Guide

Genres: Leadership, Church, Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction, Religion, Faith, Business

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 10, 2020

About the author

Tod Bolsinger (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is the vice president for vocation and formation and assistant professor of practical theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author of It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian: How the Community of God Transforms Lives and Show Time: Living Down Hypocrisy by Living Out the Faith. A frequent speaker, consultant, and blogger, he serves as an executive coach for corporate, nonprofit, educational, and church organizations in transformational leadership. For seventeen years, he was the senior pastor of San Clemente Presbyterian Church in San Clemente, California, after serving for ten years at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Tod and his wife, Beth, have two children.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I largely avoid Christian leadership books these days. They all seem to say the same things and rarely actually helpful to me. This book and Tod's other book Canoeing through the mountains have felt like exceptions to me.

This book is focused on the difficult that comes when a leader tries to bring change. He primarily uses the metaphor of a blacksmith making metal. It works and this book is helpful and encouraging. The book admits it will be incredibly difficult and you will probably fail. But it gives ways to help become the kind of leader that can deal with failure without blowing up and quitting.

Definitely read this is you are leading through change and if you enjoy leadership books.

Even if you don't like leadership books you may find this one helpful. However, if you want a leadership book that is always quoting Bible verses and proving all of its points from Scripture than this one will probably disappoint you.

[Jeff Bobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Christian leader should read this book and contemplate the cost of discipleship that calls people to change. If you want change in your church or organization look to see what you need to look for in leaders. I can't help but say if you want to remain the same to your own detriment you want to read this so you know who not to ask to be a leader.

Being a change leader is not for the weak and being tempered means being hammered, taking the heat, finding the place to cool and be willing to reenter the fire.

Change is coming in so many places and if you are not prepared for the cost don't start the journey. But, in the end you also have to know when to walk away.

While this is from a Christian perspective every leader could learn about the cost of leadership.

[Mufaro Mutambiranwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! Leadership is not about a title, authority, or position. Leadership is about bringing change - in whatever role you occupy.

[Hamish · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Pākehā (white) pastor in my mid forties, based in Aotearoa, New Zealand, at the tail end of 2020, I have come to be convinced that the Church is relying on many assumptions that are no longer valid. I am held by Jesus, and I love his Church – but in all honesty I think we are failing both those who are in the church and those who are not.
Māori in Aotearoa have a saying, ‘Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua’ (I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past.) If the Church is to rise up to its calling, then we will have to revisit our DNA in light of where we are walking to. We need to know our identity as established and affirmed by Jesus and then recognise that the form of how we live that out needs to meet the pain points of our neighbourhoods. (Loving God and neighbour!) This journey requires things of us that we don’t yet know how to do.
Bolsinger, in his latest book Tempered Resilience, addresses the problems leaders face when trying to lead their organisations or churches into this kind of journey. He rightly acknowleges that we have a lack of stamina, strength of purpose, and perserverance needed to lead adaptive change. But he also provides a solution – the formation of tempered resilience – in order that we might become both stronger and more flexible. He writes with an authority that comes from having lived this journey, sharing a number of personal stories that enhance the readers connection with the content.
This book is filled with wisdom from many different voices, something that is in my opinion gravely needed by the church for this journey. Bolsinger utilises ideas from blacksmithing, business leadership, psychology, US history, personal interviews, many informal conversations with leaders from around the world, as well as Christian leadership, Christian scripture and Jewish scholarship. By doing so he teaches us how to listen and learn from those typically outside of our mono-voiced echo-chambers, and shows us how our leadership will be enriched by doing so.
Another gem from this book is the acknowlegement that leadership formation occurs while leading. 2020 has been a very difficult year, but many of the teens in their final year of high school have found it especially hard. I was very impressed with the courage displayed by one of our church based teens recently as she shared with our church ‘2020 is not a write-off, it is part of the journey.’ Bolsinger likewise, normalises the pain of leadership and acknowledges the necessity of it. Do I encourage the formation of the next generation of leaders by giving them space to lead and feel the pain within the safety of strong relationship? Or do I prevent tomorrow’s church from having leaders by writing-off unformed leaders, or by sheltering people from the pain that forms us? Of course, most of the content in the book is focussed on the leader giving themselves to this process, but I found it also raised these useful questions for me.
There is much to be learnt from this practical and insightful book in which Bolsinger adeptly draws many disciplines into a conversation that is miraculously timely for the modern church.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very difficult and very helpful book on adaptive leadership. Dr. Bolsinger brings with him his years of experience, theological depth, and passion to see organizations align with their intended purpose. Throughout the book, he adeptly engages conversation with business strategists, organizational psychologists, theologians, the Bible, and his own anecdotal stories to help the reader understand the importance of commitment in the midst of adaptive change. This book is a worthwhile read for all those in the midst of adaptive change. It will introduce the reader to fundamental concepts and practices that help one navigate the long and vulnerable road of change. Most importantly, the encouragement will lead to faithful adaptations so that organizations can thrive in our ever changing world.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be tempered

This is a helpful and timely book on the reality of leadership that is forged in the midst of real life and real difficulties. Found the importance of answering the question of why insightful and a good marker for those leading in Ministry and life.

[Laurel Kehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on leadership, using the process of blacksmithing as the picture of building a resilient leader.

[Stephen Boutry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top 3 leadership books I have read.

[Dan Wolgemuth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really wonderful perspective on the challenges of leading through change. More than a leadership book, this is a book on living out your calling with appropriate balance and grounding.

[Chris Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book bring the best of spiritual formation and family systems theory to bear on Christian leadership. Using the metaphor of a blacksmith creating an iron tool, Bolsinger invites leaders to be forged into resilient leaders through the trials such positions inevitably create.

[Joshua Pankey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I just don’t get the Christian Leadership genre. This book is fine.

[Karen Berlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relying primarily on the analogy of forging iron, (and extensively from the writings of Edwin Friedman and Martin Luther King Jr.) this book maximizes blacksmith imagery (heating, holding, hammering, hewing and tempering) to convey features of adaptable leadership, such as stress, resistance, self-reflection, vulnerability, humility, stress, relationships, practice and rest. Practical in both length and content, Bolsinger offers encouragement and easy to remember lessons, applicable to all, but most especially for those in church leadership positions.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Courage requires a Christian identify of knowing you are loved and affirmed by God and that your identity is not in your achievements and titles. Then you can take risks and risk failure.
If we assume responsibility for bringing change, and that requires people to change and it requires us to change, then we are leading! Anytime we step into a space where change is required and resisted, we are leading. Every time we step toward a challenge that requires others to step up with us, we are leading. Everyone we join with others in a cause that requires still others to join our cause, we are leading. Anytime we embrace conflict as a means to deepen understanding and strengthen connection, we are leading. Every time we take responsibility for our actions and face the realty that others will shirk their responsibilities, we are leading. Every time the change that is needed in the world requires us to change ourselves, we are leading.
The emotional competencies of pastors and church leaders are probably the most important factors in pastoral effectiveness. Empathy fuels connection.
Tactical empathy is understanding the feelings and mindset of another in the moment, and hearing what is behind those feelings so you increase your influence all the moments that follow. Tactical empathy sounds manipulative, but it’s honesty about objectives and being open and concerned about the needs of others. It’s about the pathways and obstacles, caring personality and challenging directly. It’s attuning and accompanying people through change.
What teachers really teach is themselves, contagious passion. Children learn from people they love, and love means willing the good of another. Development of teams and building those teams into communities. Bonds are forged by caring for each other and the common good.
The prayer of examine is in gratitude for the day, where we call to mind the strongest emotions or experiences that seem to linger and have left an impression on us, interior movements. Paying attention to them with increasing self-awareness we can grow closer to God and his will. Were those feelings, consolations or desolations? (Ignatius) Closer to God or away from God?
My worst times as leader are when I feel like I’m facing the challenges and resistance alone.
Not what do I do, but what do I see? Emphasize seeing not solving. We have a bias to action. Gaining perspective, the unspoken fears/anxieties, power plays, is a critical practice for leading change.
You don’t mess with the creed. "A person should tithe to the local church "or that "every Christian will work for justice.” These are good ideas, but you don’t add things to the essentials of belief. But this is exactly what Jesus does. (Greatest Commandments)

[George P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leadership is difficult under the best of circumstances. Under the worst of circumstances — say, a global pandemic combined with state-mandated lockdowns — it can push leaders to the breaking point. To avoid breaking, leaders need to develop resilience.

According to Tod Bolsinger, resilience “is not about becoming smarter or tougher; it’s about becoming stronger and more flexible.” In his new book, Tempered Resilience, Bolsinger outlines  for Christian leaders “a process of reflection, relationships, and practices during the act of leading that form resilience to continue leading when the resistance is highest.”

Bolsinger is a speaker, executive coach, former pastor, and author who serves as associate professor of leadership formation and senior fellow for the De Pree Center for Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

He begins the book by defining leadership as “the transformation and growth of a people — starting with the leader — to develop the resilience and adaptive capacity to wisely cut through resistance and accomplish the mission of the group.” This is a helpful definition for two reasons.

First, in the context of a local church, this understanding of leadership reminds pastors their job is to accomplish the mission of the community they lead. Their job, according to Ephesians 4:12, is to “to equip [Christ’s] people for works of service.” Leadership, in other words, is not so much what the leader does, but what others do because of what the leader does.

Second, Bolsinger’s definition emphasizes the development of character, especially in the leader. Leading people through change is not a connect-the-dots picture. Anyone can draw a line from 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, and so on. Real life is not that simple. There are neither numbers nor dots. So leadership must focus on the development of the character of the leader.

That character is tested when the people begin to resist change. And people always resist change. When they encounter resistance, leaders often experience “failure of nerve” or “failure of heart.”

Bolsinger contrasts those two failures this way: “If failure of nerve is being too soft and accommodating to lead change, then failure of heart is becoming so hardened and brittle that leading the change process is changing the leader for the worse.” Resilience is the ability to bend but not break.

So, how do leaders develop that capacity?

Using the forge as a metaphor, Bolsinger describes resilient leadership development as an ongoing, fourfold process of “heating, holding, hammering, and tempering.” If you’ve ever seen blacksmiths at work, this process is easy to picture in your mind. Blacksmiths place an ingot of steel in the fire, grab hold of it with tongs to pull it out, hammer it against the anvil, then stick it back in the fire. Then they repeat the process.

Applied to leadership rather than steel, the forging process looks like this:

* heating “through leading and reflection”;

* holding “through personal and professional relationships”;

* hammering “through spiritual practices and the practice of leadership”; and

* tempering “through rest and slow release of leadership responsibilities.”

Notice that in the heating and hammering phases of the process, resilient leaders emerge “through leading” and through “the practice of leadership.” There are some things you can only learn by doing them. Leadership is one of them. Resilient leaders lead by leading and then by learning from their successes and failures.

This past year has been difficult for many reasons: impeachment, pandemic, civil unrest, natural disasters, a presidential election. It has left many hoping next year will run its course more quickly and smoothly.

Without claiming the mantle of a prophet, however, I wonder whether American churches will face different but equally challenging circumstances in the coming year. What if church members have grown accustomed to not attending church and don’t come back? What about the increasing numbers of “nones” who have neither a formal religious affiliation nor a felt need to get one? What about a culture that seems increasingly post-Christian, and in some cases even anti-Christian?


How will all these challenges — and many, many more — affect the cause of Christ in America?

I can’t answer that question. But I can say with a high degree of confidence that those churches that thrive in challenging times will be led by resilient pastors who bend with the circumstances, but never break from the gospel. Those churches will adapt and grow.

That being the case, you might want to read Bolsinger’s book.

Book Reviewed

Tod Bolsinger, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2020).

P.S. If you like my review, please click "Helpful" on my Amazon review page.

P.P.S. This review originally appeared at InfluenceMagazine.com.

[Roy Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tod Bolsinger has gained wide recognition for his leadership expertise displayed in “Canoeing the Mountains.” Since then, he has continued to build upon the work of Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky focused on adaptive change, along with that of Edwin Friedman’s attention to organizational systems. In this book, he uses the metaphor of tempered steel to describe the skills necessary to be a leader capable of leading deep change in the face of massive resistance. Martin Luther King Jr.’s line about “hewing hope from the mountains of despair” figures prominently. (It’s clear that Bolsinger has listened to his critics who suggested he address the experiences of people of color.) “Leading change,” he writes, “is disruptive. And everything within resists disruption.” He writes in a compelling manner, combining storytelling with data and filling the book with illustrations of the tempering process. Remarkably, Bolsinger participated in a blacksmithing course as part of his research for the book’s central metaphor. (Some readers may be turned off by the PowerPoint nature of the book, but for those who want to learn precise skills, it’s helpful.)

While he is clearly building on the work of others, including Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Bolsinger is focused on his audience: Christian leaders of congregations, whose lives must be grounded in a relationship with God who has called them into the service of transformation. He acknowledges the work is hard and describes candidly his own failures along the way. What is needed is “tempered resilience” to remain a leader in the face of resistance. The goal is clarity about the “processes and practices” that will enable leaders to be tempered and resilient. I think this book would be enormously helpful when studied together in a collegial group committed to supporting one another in the demanding work of congregational change. It is not clear what challenges congregations that survive the global pandemic will face. It is obvious though that change will be needed to adapt to a new circumstance. This book and Bolsinger should be considered essential guides.

[Me · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why did I read this book? As soon as I saw it was utilizing christian examples for "leadership," I should have put it down. Still, I wanted more information on resiliency.

Information derived? Vague. Unspecific. With each page having a skip-worthy paragraph (or more) on some characters in the bible. And as I close the book I still can't tell you how leaders are formed. I mean, sure, Bolsinger discusses listening, deep reflection, and self-awareness. I just read Marcus Aurelius' book Meditations, and I learned all that there. With much more clarity that this book, too.

I suppose I can use the same metaphor (resilient leaders are forged in the crucible of...) that the author used (over and over and over again) in that, I can only be struck by the hammer of using "favorite author quotes repeatedly" until my interest is beat out of me. Ok, yes, I get it, Bolsinger loves Jonathan Sacks, Edwin Friedman, and Martin Luther King. I have to wonder whether writing for "leaders" needs to include what someone else said all wrapped up by nice and pretty blacksmithing metaphor.

Why? Because these leaders are supposed tough guys who can be honed to a razors edge of decision making, so they can have their flock follow saying "gee, he's great?"

Still. There is good info in the book, but I feel said info is surrounded and obfuscated by poor, egotistical, or religious examples.

If one could take out the religious ramble, the book might be half its size.

[Jenny Kast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love love love leadership books. (That go deep and have a rather large amount of psychology informing the knowledge shared as opposed to the Rah Rah! Work HARDER! I EAT rejection for BREAKFAST type leadership books.) The added bonus with this book is that I read it as part of leadership cohort at my church. So, you know, in a book club.

There are so many quotes I could share, but the chapter that made the biggest impact was on relationships (Ch 5). "In my own life and leadership, I have experienced that my worst times as a leader are not when things are going wrong but when I feel like I am facing the challenges and resistance alone."

My natural tendency is to work on tasks, alone in a place away from anyone I know, heaping on more and more responsibility. That is no way to lead.

My natural tendency when things get stressful and overwhelming is to deprioritize time with friends, because that is a waste of time and using the hours of the day irresponsibly. Nope. That time with friends, AWAY from work and my arenas of leadership, give the strength needed to keep going through the hard.

I want to emulate the majority of this book in the areas in which I lead. And guess what? These leadership principles are completely counter the leadership that we are seeing from this current administration.

More contemplation, empathy, vulnerable relationships. Less braggadocio, threats and chaos. This is no way to lead.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tod Bolsinger, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change

The best book on leadership I have ever read. Why? It is not prescriptive, but predictive! Helping inform and prepare (and heal) my heart and mind for the intensity and uncertainty of parish ministry.

“A tempered leader is formed in the act of leading, through reflection, relationships, and a rule of life, in a rhythm of leading and not leading.”

“Resistance is the key difference between management and leadership: Good management is usually met with a grateful response from those whom we manage. Leadership is often met with stubborn resistance from the very people we are called to lead.”

I found ch.5&6 to be the best in the book. E.g. In chapter 5 HOLDING: ".. I just kept going." (p107);

The connection of resilience with relationship "front stage, backstage, offstage" and the six other relational dynamics (p112).

In chapter 6 HAMMERING: How awesome is MLK's pledge! (p135)!

".. learn from mistakes.." (p140), and "losses and longings" (p145).

Observation followed by creativity." (p149), ".. What do I see?.." (p152)

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read one or two or ten leadership books in my time. This is, hands down, one of the best I've read to date.

Bolsinger is a new-to-me author (and I'm genuinely eager to read his other books!). In 'Tempered Resilience,' he combines three topics exceedingly relevant and important in my life right now--leadership, business, and Christian faith--into a practical and powerful read. I love the inclusion of Judaic texts, as well; he often quotes Israeli writers and draws on rabbinic text and tradition to shed light and context on Old Testament components.

With a "deep and wide" background such as Bolsinger's, he is in a unique position to speak on the topic. I particularly enjoyed how he even studied smithing as part of the writing process!'

This book earns a well-deserved spot on my bookcase, right next to John Maxwell, Patrick Lencioni, Simon Sinek, and Michael Hyatt. Definitely one I'll revisit regularly; it's impossible to get everything out of it I can after just one pass.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Kyle Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Semi-selected this book for an areawide clergy group to work through in 4 sessions and it turned out to be a solid read on Christian leadership that blends a random metaphor (blacksmithing), biblical stuff, and cultural stuff. In other words...a pretty typical Christian leadership book! I did not benefit from this one as much as Bolsinger's first book Canoeing the Mountains, but that could be because it's a lot of the same great stuff with a new metaphor. Zero qualms with Bolsinger's work here, I just continue to be ambivalent toward this genre because of the significant overlap from book to book.

Six blacksmithing/leadership steps:
1. Working: Leaders are formed in leading.
2. Heating; Strength is forged in self-reflection.
3. Holding: Vulnerable leadership requires relational security.
4. Hammering: Stress makes a leader.
5. Hewing: Resilience takes practice.
6. Tempering: Resilience comes through a rhythm of leading and not leading.

[Todd Buegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

It was insightful and thoughtful. There are a lot of really good books on leadership floating around right now, and I've appreciated many of them. But Bolsinger's ability to weave the Christian faith throughout the writings was wonderful and powerful.

He is honest and vulnerable about his own leadership journey, and because of that, we can see ourselves in the midst of the things he's writing about. And I love the imagery he uses. The idea that we have to continue to work on our leadership, like a blacksmith works a forge, is helpful. And the leadership rhythm he talk about...working...heating...holding...hammering...hewing... tempering...is almost liturgical in nature.

I highlighted a bunch of spots and will look forward to referring back to this book. I highly recommend it.

[Dr Ariel Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes books are all the more powerful because of the season of your life in which you read them. This book is a good book - don't get me wrong. But I could also see someone else thinking, "I didn't think it was THAT great!" But for me, in this moment, this was exactly what I needed to read. The past 18 months, and within that timeline, the past THREE months have been a non-stop wave of adversity and confusion. It helps to understand the crucible of tempering, to know that God has a purpose in the insane heat and the blows of the hammer that I've been feeling.

I think every leader, particularly every PASTOR, would benefit from this book. He writes about "change agents" but I think all ministers are essentially change agents, not just those who are in building projects or other defined seasons of change.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“People do not resist change, per se. People resist loss.”
“Acts of sabotage are not bad things that evil people do. Acts of sabotage are the human things that anxious people do.”

Mr. Bolsinger’s book on leadership is challenging and refreshing. I had grown weary with Christian leadership books. It seemed the church was more concerned about raising leaders than disciples and was simply applying leadership theories to the church, neglecting the “why” of leading. This book is a great balance.

What I most appreciate about this book is the lack of cynicism. You can tell he honestly believes the people he is serving by leading matters to him. He doesn’t see people as something to manipulate or bend to his will. He sees people as vital…comrades not competitors or problems to be solved.

I highly recommend this book.

[David Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tod Bolsinger finds the intersection of Adaptive Leadership (Heifetz), Family Systems Theory (Bowen, Friedman, and others), Biblical Spiritual Formation (Barton, Willard, and others), and the crucible of experience in his newest book. I'm so deeply grateful for his reflections, his probing questions, and his thoughtful approach using the metaphor of steel in the fire and on the anvil. While "Canoeing the Mountains" tackled the subject of adaptive change, primarily for leaders of churches, in "Tempered Resilience" Bolsinger challenges us to take the journey of change in the face of uncertain times. Pastors and leaders of congregations will want to spend some time walking through this book together!

[Howard Boswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know what led me to read Tempered Resilience. Maybe, it was because I read Tod Bolsinger’s previous book, Canoeing the Mountains and found it worth reading. Perhaps, it was the subtitle, How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change. Change has been a frequent issue throughout my 38 years of ministry but most especially over these last three years of COVID. Yet, I was drawn to read it and I believe God had a hand in leading me to this well written and readable book.

Bolsinger pulls together so much helpful insights into leadership and change. I will need to read it again just to appreciate its lessons. Anyone in ministry or leadership will benefit from this wise and honest book.

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great primer on how to be an adaptive leader, which I believe is necessary as we’ve moved from a “complicated” world to a “complex” world.

Bolsinger primarily draws upon the work of Edwin Friedman and Jonathan Sacks while drawing parallels with Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The act of blacksmithing serves as a metaphor for leaders who find themselves leading their businesses or church through a major change process.

Church leaders would do well to read this, if anything gaining the courage and boldness from reading this to move beyond the “way things have always been” when it comes to format and order.

[Marc Bulck · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Tempered Resilience” is a solid sequel to the far superior “Canoeing The Mountains” (which I thought was EXCELLENT!) I think this book could be a particularly helpful resource for the right person. For faith leaders and counselors who have already undergone some form of systems theory training (such as Clinical Pastoral Education), I’m not sure you’re going to find too much in here that isn’t already familiar to you. However, for folks sitting in the pews who have little exposure to these concepts, this could be a helpful introduction with engaging stories, illustrations, and anecdotes to help flesh them out with clarity.

[Allison Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was refreshing to my soul. It holds the leadership lessons that I wish I knew before jumping into a new leadership position last year. It provides a vision for what a leader is moving towards, and explains the resilience needed towards changing a culture. It exposed many of my shortcomings, as well as encouraged me to press on. It’s explanation of sabotage while leading was also helpful, and spoke to many of the hurts that can come when you are a face of big changes. After reading this, I feel encouraged to love deeply, but also to persist faithfully in the bringing about of change.

[Johnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tod again provides insight crucial for anyone leading change, which is all 21st-century leaders. Untempered metal tools will catastrophically fail during operation. Untempered leaders will also catastrophically fail in the middle of leading. Tod gives insight into this process. Like a good diagnostic tool, Tempered Resilience outlines the diseases of failure of nerve and heart, how they develop, and their impact on leaders and organizations. Anyone looking to understand adaptive leadership would be well served reading this book.

[Amy Jacobsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 While there was some good leadership principles in the content, I didn't particularly connect with the blacksmithing metaphor.

It was a timely and relevant read as read in the middle of a global pandemic and escalating divisions around race, politics and church here in the US. Resilience is a word that has been with me since March 2020 and continues to surface in what I read and conversations I am in.