Top six leadership paradoxes.

The definition of paradox we like is “the simultaneous holding of two seemingly opposite concepts which when effectively combined provides a powerful synergy.”

1. An effective leader must be tough and loving. The best leaders combine the ability to be empathetic with the will to enforce the rules. They can build relationships and get results. They care enough to confront people and tell the truth in love. They set high standards and then work with individuals to help them succeed. This combining of seemingly opposite traits provides them with tremendous leadership power. It provides a powerful platform of trust or authenticity upon which strong organizations can be built.


2. The effective leader provides both vision and control. This is sometimes called the pilot’s paradox. The best fighter pilots have to combine floodlight-like awareness of their total surroundings while keeping a laser-like focus on their target. If they can’t maintain the balance between the two they develop target fixation and drill the plane into the ground! So the leader must develop and communicate the vision, but keep focused on the details enough to make sure the target is reached. Some phrase this as getting big by thinking small. The leader with only vision and no control ends up frustrating everyone. The leader with all control and no vision only ends up de-motivating everyone. The correct balance provides constant course correction while always keeping the long-range goal in sight.


3. You build the organization by developing the individual. The effective leader has to develop the organization but can only do this effectively long-term by developing each individual. The balance between autonomy and team goals must be developed and maintained, as well as simultaneous top-down and grassroots up communication. The effective leader engages every individual to contribute to the organizations overall goal. He can protect the ‘wild ducks’ or ‘sprinters’ who are creative and deliver innovation but won’t fly in formation, while encouraging the steady marathon runners who always stay in formation and deliver the goods. The effective leader is committed to mentoring because he or she knows each individual has different needs, motivation and learning styles and one size does not fit all! If every individual is growing and feels valued the organization cannot and will not fail!


4. You must be quick but careful, risking but cautious. Others refer to this as swift but mindful or speed with study. It is truthfully said that it is not the big that eat the small, but the fast that eat the slow. But impulsive reactionary moves can kill an organization. The effective leader develops the ability to steer the organization while looking a hundred yards out. He or she is optimistic but knows how to analyze pitfalls.


5. You must be organized but flexible. The effective leader likes and demands organization, but is constantly breaking down barriers and bureaucracies. The most effective organizations are adaptable and agile, and may be reorganized on a moments notice. If it is not broken, fix it anyway. What is the best way to do things and get results, not the routine? The effective leader emphasizes results and relationships, not routines and rhetoric. If the organization gets in the way of delivering value to the customers and employees, shoot the organization and reengineer it to get the necessary result or better build the relationship.


6. To build the organization you must tear it down. You grow your business by destroying it. Anything that doesn’t work has to go. It is called creative destruction or disruptive innnovation. Your competition will do it otherwise, and they won’t show the compassion you will. Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel, said only the paranoid survive. Be paranoid about your products/services and try to determine ways to destroy them to make your organization better. Nothing is changing faster than the speed of change. The only way to somewhat control change is to take charge of it and create it. It is better to disrupt and creatively destroy the organization you love than have it done by someone who does not care.