How can leaders balance being empathetic and supportive with maintaining authority and making tough decisions in order to effectively lead their team through challenging situations?

Leaders can balance being empathetic and supportive by actively listening to their team members, showing understanding of their emotions, and providing necessary support. At the same time, they can maintain authority by setting clear expectations, making tough decisions based on what is best for the team as a whole, and communicating these decisions transparently. By demonstrating empathy, support, authority, and decisiveness, leaders can effectively navigate challenging situations and lead their team towards success.