Paradox
Present seeming contradictions that reveal deeper truths.
What & why
A paradox stalls the autopilot. When a statement seems to contradict itself, the listener cannot just file it away and has to pause and resolve it, which pulls attention to the idea and makes it stick. Working through the apparent conflict feels like a small insight the listener reached themselves, so the conclusion tends to land harder than a flat assertion. The compressed, balanced phrasing is also easy to remember and repeat, which helps the point travel.
Before & after
“We should invest now so we save on costs later.”
“The more we try to control, the less control we have.”
When you’ll use it
Leadership messages: "Less is more" or "Slow down to speed up"
Innovation talks: "Failure is the path to success"
Change management: "The only constant is change"
Strategy presentations: "You have to spend money to save money"
Pro tip
Set up the contradiction, then reveal the wisdom within it.
Questions & answers
What is a paradox in speaking?
When should I use paradoxes in presentations?
How is a paradox different from a simple contradiction?
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