Human Resources Kit For Dummies, 4th Edition

Chapter 21

Ten Skills You Need for Navigating Paradox

IN THIS CHAPTER

Recognizing what paradox navigation is

Identifying skills you need to navigate paradox

Understanding the main challenges

There has never been a more important time to be an HR leader — the work environment is complex, and organizations are craving strong leadership. The HR profession must continue to evolve, and HR leaders must build new skills to lead through the complexities. This is why I felt it important to dedicate this chapter to a skill I believe is essential: paradox navigation.

Paradox navigation is the ability to navigate the natural paradoxes (tensions) that exist within organizations (collaboration versus efficiency, strategic versus tactical, long term versus short term). This chapter provides insight on how to serve as a paradox navigator in your organization.

Understand the Impact

In the 2016 HR Competency Model (from the Ross School of Management at the University of Michigan and the RBL Group), a new competency (new in that it was finally named) — paradox navigator — emerged as mission critical for HR leaders.

Researcher highlighted two important findings: 1) Paradox navigation was the competency ...