A tightrope act between two worlds: leading with paradoxes

We live in a reality of paradoxes. Contradictory facts are rising constantly as urgent and true at the same time — an excess of labor in some sectors and a scarcity of workers for critical functions, managers who are integral and underskilled, flexible work revealed to be productive and unproductive.

However though being a familiar reality, paradoxes are becoming increasingly difficult to manage. The typical approach relies on stability and predictability, on planning for the long term based on the past. But that leaves us flat-footed, slow to react to both challenges and opportunities. The non-stop pace of change forces leaders to be much more agile, adaptable, and resilient than ever before. Those who are able to embrace this new reality and lead their organizations through change and uncertainty will be well-positioned for success in the years to come. As a consequence, navigating paradoxes is today the most important personal competence for leaders in explaining business performance.

Researchers spotlighted two competences being important for leaders to grasp the challenges of paradoxes and to navigate successfully:

Mindset of duality. Be aware that paradoxes and contradictions are neither solvable nor avoidable. These leaders are comfortable with duality, able to summon both realism and optimism, rationality and intuitiveness. It’s a time to be both operationally or tactically focused, and yet strategic.

Be aware of toggling situational. In order to handle paradoxical situations effectively it is important to give clear directions and set priorities while making room for participation by delegating, thus allowing new solutions or hidden paths to be discovered. Make hard decisions with empathy and lead with conviction during uncertainty while being humble at the same time. Show empathy while staying emotional distant.

It is time to  face the paradoxes we live in and to make your workforce a force you can count on. Doing so, resilience will grow and so does your business.

Join the next Executive MBA Strategic Management and Technology and learn how to deal with paradoxes and how to remain cognitively agile to lead your team to mastery!

Key facts

• Start:  March 21, 2024
• Application Deadline: February 18, 2024
• Structure: part-time, blockable in modules
• Number of participants: max. 15 people
• Tuition fee: €26,890.00 (excl. VAT and travel and accommodation costs, surcharge for field study)
• Language: English
• Admission requirements: First academic degree, 3 years of professional experience, personal admission interview
• Location: TU Wien, Vienna surroundings
• Academic Director: Univ. Teacher. Dr. Wolfgang Güttel

If you have further questions regarding the program and the application process please get in touch with: Mag. Vanessa Racz, Senior Program Manager,
via telephone +43 1 588 01 41708 or via e-mail.