Research on paradoxical leadership (PL), defined as leaders’ seemingly contradictory, yet interrelated behaviors that entail a ‘both-and’ approach to address tensions has gained increasing momentum in recent years. However, to date, there is no literature review that integrates the partly disconnected research streams and cumulates empirical findings. In this article, we distinguish between different types of paradoxical tensions on multiple levels of analysis and discuss individual and organizational management approaches to cope with these tensions. By doing so, we extend the notion of PL to the management of paradoxes on the individual and organizational level. Based on our framework, we discuss shortcomings and gaps with respect to the interplay of drivers, different levels of analysis as well as boundaries and outcomes and present an agenda for future research that contributes to a more holistic understanding of PL.
