Posted by Nathalia Lopes on 25 Mai, 2021
A wound that hurts and does not feel. A void that fills. A love that, to bind, must first let go. Literature and music are full of paradoxes. A figure of speech that flirts with the impossible. A figure of thought that is based on an apparent contradiction and that challenges logic in proposing the union of absolutely contrary things.
In proposing the coexistence of such opposing ideas, a paradox seems at first sight absurd and unresolved. But when examined more carefully, he carries within himself the possibility of creating something new from the coexistence with the contradictory. Paradoxes challenge common sense and can therefore lead to new and better solutions.
The business world is full of paradoxes: how, at the same time, to have agility and precision? How to be bold and prudent? How can we provide security and at the same time challenge people? How can we reduce costs and increase quality?
Dealing with paradoxes is one of the main challenges of leadership. Faced with seemingly irreconcilable demands and pressures, we are tempted to give simplistic answers and even lazily embrace management manuals that say, for example, it is very difficult to have low cost and offer high quality services simultaneously.
Of course, the market positioning chosen by the company directly affects its business model. However, in a complex and dynamic world like ours, even companies with premium service will be increasingly charged for wiping their expenses, just to stay in this example.
Holding onto one of the polarities (cost or quality) and closing yourself completely to dialogue and the possibility of seeking solutions that combine different ingredients is a demonstration of the lack of maturity of leadership. Tied to his area, his interests and his world view, the manager can not see the business and processes from a broader perspective.
The debates get polarized. And, in the corporate environment, polarization has the same harmful effect as in politics and other social spheres: it makes dialogue impossible, undermines trust and teamwork and affects the company’s performance by undermining the systemic vision and integrated work of different areas.
Leaders need to seek solutions that escape the polarity trap. You don’t navigate a complex world with simplistic solutions. It is necessary to build bridges, to listen, to negotiate, to seek new solutions that combine different perspectives.
As a leader, it is sometimes necessary to make choices and have the courage to insist on the "OR" (or this, or that). Other times, however, it is necessary wisdom to bet on the "AND" (this and that), combining various perspectives to create a new solution.
And you, as a manager, what dishes have you tried to balance? What are the great paradoxes you need to deal with to achieve your goals? And how are you dealing with the different polarities?
Source: http://beehavior.com.br/paradoxos-polaridades-lideranca/