Paradox: “A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.”  (Dictionary.com)

Have you ever ridden a bicycle?  Of course you have.  Did you realize that a bicycle is a profound example of a paradox?  A paradox is something that appears to be self-contradictory, but is in actuality a profound truth.

Every bicycle has 2 pedals.  Those pedals are the paradox of the matter:  when one is up, the other is down; one is left, the other is right.  They appear completely opposite, but in actuality are perfectly complementary.  What gives the bicycle its powerful mechanical advantage is the paradox of its pedals.  Two opposing elements working seamlessly together to efficiently and effectively transport people at speeds and with an ease otherwise unattainable.

Good leadership involves paradox.  Good leadership is like a bicycle with 2 pedals.  Good leadership is more about “both/and” not “either/or”.  That is the “Paradox of Leadership”: both/and not either/or.  Two (or more) contradictory perspectives that together create a possible profound and powerful truth.

Sadly though, many leaders are like a bicycle with one pedal – my way or the highway.  It’s either/or leadership.  “Either you do it my way or you are wrong.”  Good leadership is not about either/or, it’s about both/and.  A good leader does not necessarily provide all the answers, they facilitate the answers.  A good leader brings together a variety of perspectives to create a synergistic solution for the good of the company.

Do companies need a fair degree of stability?  Yes.  Do they also need instability – or a readiness to embrace change?  Yes.  Both/and not either/or.  Do organizations need tight controls?  Yes.  Do they also need loose controls?  Yes.  Both/and not either/or.  Do progressive organizations need to be both structured and unstructured?  Yes.  Do they need to be able to function in both order and chaos?  Yes.  Do they need both good macroscopic and good microscopic management?  Yes.

Both/and not either/or.

Good leaders know how to live and lead in the both/and, to bring together a wide variety of perspectives, abilities and values to lead their organization forward into exceptional performance.  International business coach, facilitator, author, speaker and Vistage Chair Mike Richardson refers to this as the “Agile Middle”.  Leaders who lead in the both/and are leading from the Agile Middle – they are providing Agile Leadership to their organizations.

Mike asserts that in business it is the agile who survive.  Business is a fast-paced environment rife with change.  Only the agile can change direction quickly to take advantage of new opportunities, or avoid potential hazards that can lead to their demise or decreased profitability.  Agile businesses understand their success rests with their capacity to quickly implement change.

Agile leaders understand in order for the business to successfully navigate the hazards of change all perspectives need to be considered and implemented in various degrees in a variety of contexts.  Do we need to implement more structure?  Yes.  Do we need to be less structured?  Yes.  What??  It can’t be both – it’s one or the other.  It’s either/or.

No.  In this area of the business we need a little less structure, and over here we need less.

This is the Paradox of Leadership.  The Agile leader leads from the Agile Middle and understands the Paradox of Leadership.  The Agile Leader lives in the both/and.

What about you?  What about your organization?  Do you feel the pressure to provide the answers, to know what needs to be done?  Are you the one to whom everyone looks for the success of the organization?  Is that how you want it – your way is the best way?  Does everyone need to get on board with what you think needs to be done?  If that is how you lead then you are doing your people a disservice and you are limiting the success of your organization.

And, you are doing yourself a disservice.  The people in your organization are its greatest asset.  Cultivate and harness the profound and powerful advantage your people provide by learning to lead in both/and not either/or.  Lead from the Agile Middle by understanding the Paradox of Leadership.

Your success is found in both/and – those are the 2 pedals you need to pedalling.