1. They balance confidence and humility. 
A leader’s confidence makes their leadership believable. Their humility makes their confidence believable.

2. They leverage their vision and their blind spots. 
A leader must have a compelling vision for those they lead. A leader must be willing to recognize what they don’t know.

3. They embrace visibility and invisibility. 
A leader must model the way and show the team what the culture looks like. A leader must step back and allow others to step up and lead.

4. They are stubborn and open-minded. 
A leader must be fiercely committed to their core business and what makes their organization distinct. A leader must be open to new ideas and methods of doing business. 

5. They are deeply personal and inherently collective. 
A leader must see team members and customers as individuals. A leader must make the connection between individual contributions and stories and the big picture focus of the organization.

6. They are a teacher and a learner. 
A leader must use their experience to train others and reproduce other leaders. A leader must be curious to learn from others—particularly those with unique perspectives, such as new or younger employees. 

7. They model high standards and gracious forgiveness. 
Leaders must be clear on what’s expected in an organization and enforce those standards. Leaders must be committed to working through conflict.

8. They are timely and timeless. 
Leaders must look forward by planning for the future and focusing on innovation. Leaders must look back by honoring the foundations on which their organization has been built. 

1. Which of the following U.S. military terms could describe your experience in leading over the course of the past 12 months?
   • Volatile—Your realities have been subject to change at any moment.
   • Uncertain—There have been times when you weren’t sure what’s next.
   • Complex—The challenges you’ve faced have been both tough and evolving.
   • Ambiguous—The answers to the problems you’ve faced are fuzzy, and you’ve lacked clarity about the way forward.
2. Review the above list of Eight Paradoxes of Great Leaders. Which of these qualities come most naturally for you? Which quality could use some intentional focus?
3. What’s one step you can take in the next 30 days to leverage one of these paradoxes to grow as a leader?

1. Which of the following U.S. military terms describes your experience over the course of the past 12 months?
   • Volatile—Your realities have been subject to change at any moment.
   • Uncertain—There have been times when you weren’t sure what’s next.
   • Complex—The challenges you’ve faced have been both tough and evolving.
   • Ambiguous—The answers to the problems you’ve faced are fuzzy, and you’ve lacked clarity about the way forward.
2. Review the above list of Eight Paradoxes of Great Leaders. Which of these qualities come most naturally for you? Which quality could use some intentional focus? (Team discussion tip: Team leaders should share first.)
3. What steps can we take in the next 30 days to support one another as we grow as leaders?