We each long for certainty – the security of simple answers. What, for example, are the specific qualities that make us more likely to be successful? Companies spend millions of dollars trying to define the key competencies for specific jobs. Researchers seek to pinpoint the qualities that distinguish top performers from everyone else. The more time I spend working with leaders at other companies, and leading a company of my own, the more convinced I’ve become that the paradoxical key to great performance – and leadership – is the capacity to embrace opposites. Stoic philosophers referred to this as the mutual entailment of the virtues. No virtue, they argued, is a virtue by itself. Even the noblest virtues, standing alone, have their limits. Honesty in the absence of compassion becomes cruelty. Tenacity unmediated by flexibility congeals into rigidity. Courage without prudence is recklessness. As Gregory Bateson put it: “There is always an optimal value beyond which anything is toxic, no matter what: oxygen, sleep, psychotherapy, philosophy.” Instead, operate best when we embrace our opposites in each of the four key dimensions of our lives: Read complete article.
Recommended Stories
Apple, Amazon, Alibaba Are Coming After Banks, Regulators Say
The disruption could introduce new risks into the system by compelling banks to loosen lending standards and take on greater risk.
Hope FCU Wins Grant for Low-Income Housing
The CDFI awards support to developers, renters and buyers.
Many Orgs Still Aren’t Applying Protections to Fight Fake Emails
Without email authentication standards, hackers don’t need to compromise accounts to send emails that impersonate FIs.
Resource Center

White Paper
Sponsored by Epic River
Helping Banks & Credit Unions Open New Relationships with Healthcare Clients
Learn how your credit union can onboard new sources of deposit revenue from hospital systems and healthcare providers in your community with the strategy outlined in this white paper.

White Paper
Sponsored by Kasasa
Thriving in a Rising Rate Environment
Learn why reward-based checking accounts are an effective weapon against rising interest rates, and how they enable your credit union to more effectively retain and compete for consumer deposits.

On-Demand Webinar
Sponsored by Finastra
6 Steps to Start Your Credit Union's Digital Mortgage Journey
Taking the first step towards a complete digital mortgage experience can be the hardest. Learn six strategic steps to start your credit union’s journey today.
Credit Union Times

Don’t miss crucial strategic and tactical information necessary to run your institution and better serve your members. Join Credit Union Times now!
- Free unlimited access to Credit Union Times' trusted and independent team of experts for extensive industry news, conference coverage, people features, statistical analysis, and regulation and technology updates.
- Exclusive discounts on ALM and Credit Union Times events.
- Access to other award-winning ALM websites including TreasuryandRisk.com and Law.com.

Copyright © 2019 ALM Media Properties, LLC. All Rights Reserved.