Sometimes leadership means that either/or situations are merely a trap for the unsuspecting and the experienced alike. Prior to the overseas trip Senator McCain was justifiably inviting the American electorate to join him in having concerns about Senator Obama’s lack of international and military experience.

Many observers and commentators are of the view that Mr Obama’s overseas trip has been a success. But, there ends the either/or aspect of the gauntlet. For, as the New York Times puts it today:

The quandary for Mr. Obama is that while his trip clearly presented an opportunity for him — even many Republicans conceded that he seized it masterfully with eight days of appearances in troubled lands, meetings with foreign leaders and visits to soldiers — it also fuelled the questions his critics have used to try to undercut him: whether he is arrogant and taking his election for granted.

At a much smaller scale, as a leader you may find that some of your days are similarly dogged by paradox much like the senator’s European trip which ended today.  What  skills and approaches have worked particularly well for you?