The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership

Author: Tim Elmore

Have you ever seen a leader who was so confident that you wished they would show more humility? Or the opposite, have you ever seen a leader who was so humble that they couldn't motivate anyone to do anything, and you wished they had more self-confidence? There's a paradox; people need a leader with both confidence and humility. And have you ever seen a leader who put in so much effort that others could never advance and take their place on the team? I bet you wished they would step aside and become completely invisible so others could realize their full potential. On the other hand, do you know leaders who had no impact, or didn't set an example, yet they wanted to be a role model for their team in what they wanted them to do? Once again, we find a paradox; people need a leader who is both visible and invisible at the same time. I think you get the idea. There are clear contradictory traits that great leaders exhibit, and by displaying these qualities, they become a magnet for attracting the best people. I believe that many leaders haven't realized these paradoxes because they feel they are contradictory qualities. Surely, one cannot possess two contradictory qualities, right? And yet, they must. Today's teams consist of individuals with high expectations of their leaders, and managing teams has become more complex than when I started my career in 1969. At one moment, your subordinates need you to speak to each of them individually, and then suddenly, it requires speaking collectively to the entire organization. At one moment, you must set high standards for their performance, and then suddenly, you should be a model of tolerance and overlook when they fail. And there are times when they need you to be present; at other times, they want you to step aside and make way for them.