Episode 532 – The Leadership Paradox

This episode of The 7 Minute Leadership Podcast explores the contradictions leaders face, from balancing confidence with humility to controlling outcomes while empowering teams. Learn how managing paradoxes is the key to mastering leadership.

Host: Paul Falavolito
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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of
performance through strong human relations, team building and GOLA GV.
This is the Seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host
Paul Fellowaledo. Hello everyone, and welcome to the Seven Minute

(00:24):
Leadership Podcast. It's episode five thirty two. Today we're going
to explore something I call the leadership paradox. On the surface,
leadership looks simple. You lead in people follow, But in reality,
leadership is full of contradictions paradoxes that if you don't
recognize them can crush you, but if you do, they

(00:48):
can sharpen you into the kind of leader people trust,
respect and want to follow. So let me give you
a few example of these leadership paradig paradox Number one
confidence versus humility. A leader must project confidence, especially in

(01:10):
uncertain times. People look to you for reassurance and direction.
But if you let that confidence turn into arrogance, you
will lose the room immediately. That's where humility comes in.
Great leaders know how to say I don't know, but
I'll find out. They know how to admit mistakes. Confidence

(01:33):
makes people believe in you, Humility makes them connect with you.
And the paradox is you need both at the same time.
Paradox number two control versus empowerment. Leaders are expected to
maintain control to ensure standards are met and that the

(01:53):
mission is achieved. But here's the truth. The tighter you
grip control, the less effective team becomes. The paradox is
that true control comes from giving control away. Empowering your
people to own their decisions and their results actually gives
you more influence, not less. Paradox number three speed versus patients.

(02:19):
In leadership, you need to move fast. Decisions can't linger forever.
But at the same time, the most important things like
building trust, creating culture, and developing people cannot be rushed.
The paradox is knowing when to push the gas pedal
and when to ease off. Leaders who confuse urgency with

(02:41):
impatience destroy teams. Leaders who confuse patience with procrastination stall progress.
In Paradox number four, strength versus vulnerability. This one surprises
most people. Leaders must be strong enough to make tough calls,
stand up to pressure, and protect their people. But if

(03:04):
you never show vulnerability, if you never let your team
see that you're human, you create distance. The paradox is
that showing vulnerability doesn't weaken your authority, it strengthens it.
Your people don't need a robot at the helm, they
need a human being who understand struggle. In paradox number five,

(03:28):
tradition versus innovation, a leader must respect the traditions and
history of their organization. That's where identity and culture live.
But at the same time, leaders are called to challenge
the status quo, to innovate, and to lead their teams
into the future. The paradox is balancing the two without

(03:50):
alienating one side or the other. Respect the past, but
don't get trapped in it. So here's the big takeaway.
The leadership paradox is not something to be solved, it's
something to be managed. If you're looking for clean, easy answers,

(04:11):
leadership will frustrate you. But if you can embrace the
tension of these paradoxes confidence in humility, control and empowerment,
speed and patience, strength and vulnerability, tradition and innovation, you
unlock the true power of leadership. So your job is

(04:35):
to live inside of these tensions, to know when to
lean left and when to lean right. That's the art
of leadership, and that's what separates average managers from extraordinary leaders.
So the next time you feel that tension, take a
deep breath, don't panic, and just recognize it for what

(04:58):
it actually is. It's the leadership paradox at work. This
has been the seven minute Leadership Podcast and I thank
you for listening. For more Paul fell of Alito Podcasts,
visit paulfellowalito dot com.