The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order.

Top performers are able to look at two sides of an issue or problem and find the third or 'and/also' option. Fu Hsi 5,000 years ago developed the 'and/also' philosophy, more commonly known as yin and yang. These paradoxes do not have to be resolved, only managed.

Performance Balance Triangle

Peak performance comes from balancing all three sides of the triangle. People provide the base and need to be empowered, enlightened, and energized. Lack of training, feedback, communication, or fair compensation inhibits performance. Management systems need to drive value-added work, effective communications, and customer focus. Without up-to-date technology and technical expertise, peak performance is impossible. You can't make a computer with a sledgehammer.

Effective leaders are able to fire up imaginations, build confidence in people, and develop the 'go for it' attitude in their team. Above all, they display an unyielding sense of optimism.

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