Leadership and the importance of holding two opposing ideas in mind at the same time.

“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function” Fitzgerald

One of the most clarifying thoughts for me regarding leadership and effective decision making is the ability to balance opposing ideas in one’s head, and knowing when to lean on one side vs the other.

Examples:
When to be compassionate vs being strong
When to serve and listen vs making top down decisions
When to be realistic about problems vs unbridled optimism
When to be confident vs being vulnerable