I have met Novardokers who appeared to be M'kayem the Hanhaga of the Anav mentioned in Chovos Halvavos Shaar HaK'niya; to speak in a low voice and to speak little. Anava is the king of all good Middos, and a Novardoker’s main desire is to acquire this Midda (besides Bitachon).
However, a teacher, principal, a public speaker, or anyone wishing to influence the public with words of Torah and Mussar, was encouraged to be strong and impressive and eloquent.
Yet, before and/or after their performance, they need to learn Mussar to remind themselves to work for Kavod Shamayim and not themselves. And to say: “Kavod is Hevel Havalim” (again and again) when necessary.
However, a person who needs to discipline others has a danger of becoming a tough Ka'asan, since his constant routine eventually becomes his essence. I know a person who was warned about this by a Talmid of R’ Gershon.
That's why the Alter of Slabodka would periodically leave Slabodka (where he had lots of Kavod) and visit Kelm (where he wasn’t exactly appreciated... because of differences in Shita) and he went through terrible Bizyonos. He said that this saved him from the danger of Kavod he was getting as the beloved Rebbe of Slabodka. Kavod can destroy a Neshama, Chas V'shalom.
One year, they didn’t even allow the Alter to daven in Kelm, and he had to daven elsewhere. He was M'kabel the Bizayon B'ahavah, and he even appreciated it. Back in Slabodka he could be extremely tough with his Talmidim. Yet, he was a pure person full of love without Negi'os, and they say that whoever tried to follow his “tough” style, did not succeed.
חובות הלבבות שער הכניעה (פרק ו ) אבל המנהגים שראוי לנהג בהם בעל הכניעה הם עשרה וכו' והעשירי, שיהיה במעט דברים וקולו נמוך מת, ולא יעביר על לשונו כזב, ולא ישב בסוד משחקים, ולא ישמח ומעט שחוק ומעט שבועות בשם על הא, וזה מכניעה ושפלות לא מצד גדולה והתנשא, כמו שאמר הנביאבמה ששמחים עמי הארץ מתענוגי העולם (ירמיה טו יז ) לֹא שַבְתִי בְסוֹד מְשַחֲקִים וָאֶעְלֹז מִפְנֵי יָדְךָ בָידָד יָשַבְתִי כִי זַעַם מִלֵאתָנִי.
R' Nosson Tzvi Finkel, the Alter of Slabodka
