10 books that influenced my leadership journey – #9 The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership

by Tim Elmore

The Izzy Way Book Review

There are many books I can glean leadership nuggets from. The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership took little effort to find those superb tips and tricks, recommended by my leader and one I love because of the concept of the uncommon leader. Each paradox covers the idea, strategies, tips and tricks to consider for becoming that type of leader. So, let’s dive into the two paradoxes I embrace in my leadership journey.

First Paradox: Uncommon leaders are both timely and timeless

The idea of applying the leadership practices I’ve learned and building on them to create a leadership style unique to me makes this paradox worth investigating further. As the paradox suggests, my leadership style considers my past growth and experiences to determine what I must stop doing and explore and embrace the practices of the future.

How do I practice this paradox?

  1. I read many books on different leadership styles. 
  2. I seek mentorship opportunities to learn from others about their leadership approaches.
  3. I explore what works and what doesn’t in my teams, and how current and past leaders have led me to what resonates with me.

Second Paradox: Uncommon leaders are both teachers and learners

In our ever-growing, fast-paced, futuristic way of working (e.g., Gen AI), a leader needs to shift quickly from leading and learning to ensure their success and longevity. I know I can’t embrace new technologies without the humility to ask younger generations for help. I can visualize the outcomes, but making the concept a reality is something I need to outsource. Leadership and growing future leaders, though, are something I’m good at and know I can teach others. Knowing when to wear a leader’s hat vs a learner’s has become a bit more second nature nowadays. 

How do I practice this paradox?

  1. I seek reverse mentors in our team and my son to learn new technologies.
  2. I use Udemy to find just-in-time training at a level that gives me the concepts without diving into the specifics of how to build something (e.g., automating a process)
  3. I mentor and coach others in the areas I’m good at (e.g., career development, personal development, and leadership)

While there are eight paradoxes, I have only shared two that highly resonated with me; I do try to practice others, such as:

  • Uncommon leaders are both deeply personal and inherently collective.
  • Uncommon leaders balance both confidence and humility.

I am always a work in progress and strive to grow every day.

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you choose to read or listen to the book.

Check out my other book recommendations.