I just read this article on "Compassion Paradox"which I see many people wrestle with as they manage their subordinates.
The dilemma or struggle to show emphathy or to demand accountabilty with the right person and at the right time can be a skill which comes with some experience. Many people are either expert at holding people accountable or great at showing compassion. Learning to be excellent at both is key to becoming an effective leader. People who are comfortable with accountability view compassion as too "soft". And, people who are comfortable with compassion see accountability as too "hard". The paradoxical truth is that neither extreme is either "soft" or "hard". They are simply different responses to different leadership situations. You cannot be too soft if you want to be compassionate. Similarly, you cannot be too hard if you want accountabilty.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Inspiration & Paradox 51: Sheer Luck or Plain Effort?
The great scientist Louis Pasteur said this more than a century ago:
"Chance favors only the prepared mind."
By this, he meant that sudden flashes of insight (“Aha!”) don't just happen by pure chance, but are the product of preparation and hard work. Most of his great discoveries and insights were not those he was pursuing, but since his mind was prepared to make sense of them from his countless failures, he discovered much and was considered as “lucky”. He believed that nobody could accomplish goals or make discoveries by waiting for it to happen out of chance or sheer accident. Chance can only be encountered and appreciated if the mind is prepared to receive it. The prepared mind will recognize the "chance" as good fortune or an opportunity and act on it to make it happen. The unprepared mind cannot see the "chance" and keeps on going without benefiting anything.
Many great people shared the same belief as Pasteur:
"I am a strong believer in luck and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." -- Benjamin Franklin
Fortune has rarely condescended to be the companion of genius. -- Isaac Disraeli
"When you work seven days a week, fourteen hours a day, you get lucky." -- Armand Hammer
"Chance favors only the prepared mind."
By this, he meant that sudden flashes of insight (“Aha!”) don't just happen by pure chance, but are the product of preparation and hard work. Most of his great discoveries and insights were not those he was pursuing, but since his mind was prepared to make sense of them from his countless failures, he discovered much and was considered as “lucky”. He believed that nobody could accomplish goals or make discoveries by waiting for it to happen out of chance or sheer accident. Chance can only be encountered and appreciated if the mind is prepared to receive it. The prepared mind will recognize the "chance" as good fortune or an opportunity and act on it to make it happen. The unprepared mind cannot see the "chance" and keeps on going without benefiting anything.
Many great people shared the same belief as Pasteur:
"I am a strong believer in luck and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." -- Benjamin Franklin
Fortune has rarely condescended to be the companion of genius. -- Isaac Disraeli
"When you work seven days a week, fourteen hours a day, you get lucky." -- Armand Hammer
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Inspiration & Paradox 50: Paradoxical Proverbs
lThis blog marks something significant -- I have come thus far and now am celebrating my 50th Paradox!
Read these proverbs and muse over them, the paradox in them, the philosophy and truth in them.....
Begin to weave and God will give you the thread.
— German proverb
More company increases happiness, but does not lighten or diminish misery.
— Thomas Traherne
If God is, why is there evil? But if God is not, why is there good?
— St. Augustine
Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.
— Author Unknown
As the island of our knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance.
— John Wheeler
It takes both sunshine and rain to make a rainbow.
— Author unknown
The smallest deed is worth more than the greatest intention.
— Seen on a church marquee.
It is good to have an end to journey toward;but it is the journey that matters in the end.
— Ursula LeGuinn
The human heart feels things the eyes cannot see, and knows what the mind cannot understand.
— Robert Vallett
Read these proverbs and muse over them, the paradox in them, the philosophy and truth in them.....
Begin to weave and God will give you the thread.
— German proverb
More company increases happiness, but does not lighten or diminish misery.
— Thomas Traherne
If God is, why is there evil? But if God is not, why is there good?
— St. Augustine
Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.
— Author Unknown
As the island of our knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance.
— John Wheeler
It takes both sunshine and rain to make a rainbow.
— Author unknown
The smallest deed is worth more than the greatest intention.
— Seen on a church marquee.
It is good to have an end to journey toward;but it is the journey that matters in the end.
— Ursula LeGuinn
The human heart feels things the eyes cannot see, and knows what the mind cannot understand.
— Robert Vallett
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