Ruthlessly Caring

CHAPTER 2THE FIVE PARADOXICAL MINDSETS OFFUTURE-FIT LEADERSHIP

Paradoxical thinking requires that we embrace a view of the world in which opposites are joined, so that we can see the world clearly and see it whole. The result is a world more complex and confusing than the one made simple by ‘either/ or’ thought – but that simplicity is merely the dullness of death. When we think together we reclaim the life force in the world.

—Parker Palmer, author, teacher, and activist

The Five Mindsets: High-Level Summary

There are five paradoxical mindsets that leaders need to embrace to thrive in today's business landscape. Specifically, performance amidst the megatrends hinges on a leader's ability to think and lead in a way that is:

1. ruthlessly caring
2. ambitiously appreciative
3. politically virtuous
4. confidently humble
5. responsibly daring

To become future-fit, the best leaders will learn to combine all these different mindsets within their approach. As Table 2.1 shows, this means embracing the core tension within each mindset and integrating the whole spectrum of behaviours required.

In the rest of this book, we will explore each of these mindsets in more detail. For each one, unearthing the core tension, why it is an important paradox to embrace in today's business context, top tips for staying in ‘the sweet spots’, and how to avoid edging off-piste into the extremes as you attempt to follow the best path forward.

But first, let us look at paradoxes more generally, defining what a ...