Navigating leadership paradox: Engaging paradoxical thinking in practice

Rikke Kristine Nielsen*, Frans Bévort, Thomas Duus Henriksen, Anne Mette Hjalager, Danielle Bjerre Lyndgaard

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book/ReportBookResearchpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

One of the most significant management challenges in modern companies and organizations is dealing with unavoidable, complex paradoxes. Todays world is multidimensional, multipolar, and multipurpose, and increasingly, classic management challenges such as leadership vs. management; exploitation vs. exploration, virtual vs. physical presence, economic sustainability vs. environmental sustainability, localization vs. globalization, etc. assume the characteristics of paradoxes rather than problems or dilemmas. Leadership of paradox is not about making a decision once and for all or prioritizing tough trade-offs, but about navigating between opposing considerations. Navigating Leadership Paradox argues that academic knowledge pools can support leaders decision-making and sense-making in organizations and navigating paradoxes. The book outlines a practical pathway for management leaders and professionals for steering through paradox using 5 phases, 10 paradoxes, 15 tools, 20 cases, and 25 learning points. It delineates how to identify a paradox by assessing the nature of your challenge and discusses the appropriate courses of action individually as well in collaboration with other stakeholders. It also gives inspiration and advice for professional helpers assisting others in navigating paradox as part of organizational development or other educational purposes. This book will be essential reading for practitioners and academicians in the fields of leadership paradox, complexity management, change management, leadership dilemmas and organizational paradox. Outlines a practical pathway for professionals for working through different types of paradox. Focuses on tools and practices that can be used by managers at all hierarchical levels and in organizations of all sizes.

Original languageEnglish
PublisherDe Gruyter
Number of pages214
ISBN (Print)9783110788921
ISBN (Electronic)9783110788877
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Jul 2023
SeriesDe Gruyter Transformative Thinking and Practice of Leadership and Its Development
Volume3
ISSN2701-4010

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Change management
  • Complexity management
  • Leadership dilemmas
  • Leadership paradox
  • Organizational paradox
  • Leadership Development
  • Organizational development
  • Vilde problemer
  • Wicked problems
  • Grand challenges
  • Paradoksledelse
  • Paradoxical tensions
  • paradoxical balance
  • Paradox communication
  • Kompleksitetshåndtering
  • VUCA
  • Dualities
  • Facilitation
  • Action Learning
  • Aktionslæring
  • Organisationsforandring
  • Ledelse
  • Leadership
  • Management

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