The objectives of this short ten minute exercise -
- To learn a tool that will be helpful in work life
- To apply the learning
- To use this as a morning ritual to start a great day
Step 1 - the warm up
Keep your journal and the pen at hand
Sit in a relaxed position with an intent to go into a ‘flow state’ to learn something new
Take three deep, powerful breaths to lock in your focus and start the next step
Step 2 - the learning
About the Paradox theory
The paradox theory examines how seemingly opposing elements coexist and interact to create success in complex, dynamic environments. Instead of choosing between conflicting forces—such as stability versus change, or competition versus collaboration—it encourages embracing both. This balanced approach enhances flexibility, innovation, and resilience, helping organizations thrive amid uncertainty.
This theory has been in existence since the Eastern Yin/ Yang or the Greek Zeno’s days. Since the 1980s and 1990s, the management scholars started recognising that organizations face persistent tensions between opposing forces, such as Stability vs. Change, Short-Term vs. Long-Term Goals, Autonomy vs. Control etc.
Situations where this tool can be best used
- Handling conflicting priorities between customer demands and internal resource limitations
- Balancing cost-cutting measures with the need for innovation and growth
- Managing conflicting stakeholder interests (e.g., shareholders vs. customers)
The top three mental muscles (competencies) you develop by practicing this tool
Adaptability and Agility - Makes adaptability and agility essential for the balancing act of dealing with conflicting demands.
Innovation and Creativity - Encourages us to think creatively, as we must find innovative solutions to reconcile opposing forces.
Decision-Making and Judgment - Helps us embrace complexity and ambiguity, making balanced, thoughtful judgments in the face of contradictory demands.
A corporate story
The Satya Nadela (Microsoft) story
The paradox - Control vs. Empowerment
The challenge - Microsoft's corporate culture had been viewed as rigid and bureaucratic, with leaders exercising tight control over decision-making. Nadella needed to decentralize authority to empower employees and foster innovation, while maintaining enough control to ensure alignment with the company’s overall strategy.
Paradox Management - Nadella focused on creating a culture of empathy and empowerment (growth mindset). At the same time, he implemented clear structures for accountability and strategic alignment to ensure control where needed
(Satya must have listed a whole range of solutions to manage this paradox; and then picked up the growth mindset strategy mentioned above. I am sure he must have used some tools such as brainstorming, six thinking hats, mind mapping ... and so on to select the right strategy. The essence of the paradox theory as a tool is to a. Acknowledge and accept contradictory elements, b. Balance opposing forces without choosing one over the other and c. Achieve stability through ongoing adaptation and change)
Outcome - Microsoft’s cultural shift led to increased employee engagement, creativity, and innovation.
A story from the World Wars
My personal story
The paradox - Quality vs. Delivery on time
The challenge - As head of QC team, I always faced the challenge of urgency of delivery vs following the process. I had to continuously fight for more time to conduct satisfactory testing while the developers would keep on extending their coding time
Paradox Management -
This is what happened in real life - I felt like a victim without any fault of mine. I indulged in arguing and asking for more time for testing. All this had a negative impact on my team too.
How things could be different if I knew about Paradox theory - I could have agreed with the Programme Manager that my team would adopt risk-based testing (concentrating only on the key features) if the delivery was delayed by the development team.
Outcome - This approach and agreement could have put pressure on the development teams to deliver on agreed date
Step 3 - the reflection
Sit back, go down memory lane, think of various events in your work life where you could have used this learning.
If nothing comes to mind, think of a situation that would help you answer any one of these interview questions.
- "Tell me about a time when you had to balance competing priorities or manage conflicting goals." - Using paradox theory, you can highlight your understanding of both sides of the conflict (e.g., speed versus quality) and explain how you balance them, demonstrating flexibility and strategic thinking
- "How do you handle situations where short-term and long-term objectives are in conflict?" - The paradox theory approach lets you acknowledge the value of both perspectives and discuss strategies to pursue immediate needs while planning for the future, showing strategic vision
- "Describe a time when you had to advocate for both the needs of your team and the broader goals of the organization." - Here, you can discuss your ability to balance advocacy for your team’s well-being with accountability to organizational objectives, using paradox theory to illustrate your nuanced approach
Step 4 - the practice
Apply your learning to the situation you selected above.
The paradox -
The challenge -
Paradox Management -
Outcome -
Step 5 - the victory lap
Celebrate your achievement for a minute. Maybe a quick victory lap doing some energizing exercise?
**
To those who felt, “Management tools often come across as complex or overly theoretical, which can discourage practical application” - Do you feel that the last ten minutes were worth the effort?
This exercise is not only about management tools. It’s about building a neural pathway at the start of the day. And it’s about my mantra for creating small daily acts of feeling successful and happy.
Don’t forget to carry this image 👇 in your mind. There could be a great situation where you may want to use the tool. Keep a log of all such situations. It will help you when you want to train someone.
My congratulations for your first dose of the day of success and happiness. Have a great day ahead.
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