Key polarities these leaders can balance include:
Self-confidence vs humility
Great leaders have both self-confidence and humility. There is no doubt that leaders must be confident, and it helps to have intelligence, charisma, and the work ethic to get things done. But one trait, often overlooked, that successful leaders have is humility. A humble leader will recognize their strengths and weaknesses and acknowledge their blind spots. This means they will be open to learning and willing to show vulnerability â a trait that will make them appear more approachable to their staff. They also bring compassion to their leadership and allow their teams to make mistakes and learn from them.
Singular focus vs multi-tasking
Senior executives spend their days juggling multiple tasks and strategic priorities. But there are times when dealing with critical issues that they will need to focus on a singular issue. This enables the brain to enter the flow state, reducing distractions and increasing productivity.
Generating excitement vs showing restraint
Leaders need tremendous energy to motivate their teams, set the direction and inspire others to think out-of-the-box. At the same time, leadership requires self-control. The most successful leaders will tame their natural inclination to micromanage and focus on the most important tasks. Itâs essential to remain focused on the big picture and ignore minor distractions.
Ruthlessness vs compassion
Leaders must sometimes make very hard, even life-and-death, choices. But they also know when to demonstrate compassion and employ empathy to motivate people. This can be a tricky balance to achieve, but it is an essential skill, particularly in times of crisis.
Seizing the initiative vs reacting rapidly
Leaders must make rapid decisions in a crisis without having all the necessary information available. Strong leaders also get ahead of changing circumstances and will seize the initiative rather than wait for the situation to deteriorate. At the same time, they know when it is best to wait and let a situation ripen, being ready to react decisively when it does.
Innovation vs imitation
Innovation is crucial to create competitive advantage, but successful imitation can also be a way to gain a strategic edge. The skill is knowing when to pursue a truly innovative approach and when imitation will suffice.
One key pillar of finding future leaders will be screening for qualities in the form of the ability to manage these sorts of polarities. We need better assessments to help us do this, focusing on evaluating polarity-management capabilities.