A Strong Balance of Confidence and Paranoia is the Best Offense In today's environment, traditional roles are blurred and competitors and partners are often one and the same.

By Dinesh Paliwal

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Leaders of companies of any size, at any stage of development spend a lot of time focused on growing the business. We develop our game plan and ensure that we are optimally executing on our objectives. We concentrate on looking forward.

However, we should always keep one eye looking over our shoulders. Whether you lead an early stage startup or a well-established company, it is critical to challenge yourself and your team to prepare for the next disruptive force -- be it a shift in the market, a new consumer trend or a competing innovation. Leaders have to be intensely aware and be bold and flexible enough to adjust course ahead of impending changes.

Related: Why Things Always Go Wrong

To put this challenge into action, I have been striving to instill within my organization the right balance of confidence and paranoia.

To most people, paranoia carries a negative connotation. I believe it is one of the most valuable attributes a leader can have. It is about self-reflection and having the courage, humility and discipline to constantly ask uncomfortable questions that can potentially poke holes in your strategy and challenge your conventional thinking.

With great momentum and growth, some people might be inclined to take a breath and relax. It might be tempting to ride the wave of success, or wait for a crisis to make difficult decisions, but we cannot lead by crisis -- we have to stay engaged and constantly look for ways to be smarter and more efficient.

Falling victim to complacency is one of the few yet pivotal pitfalls of success. History is littered with stories of companies who didn't see it coming -- or chose not to respond.

Recall the swift demise of Blockbuster after Netflix came on the scene. The company made an effort to get on the boat with DVD-by-mail and streaming services, but its efforts were too little, too late. Today, Marissa Mayer is leading a bold effort to turn Yahoo around after complacency crept into its culture. Yahoo's struggle exemplifies the need for the entire organization to be aligned in its effort to stay alert and nimble.

Yet, this is no easy task. A 2013 Gallup study tells us that 70 percent of U.S. workers are not engaged or are "actively disengaged" at work. It is our job as leaders to inspire and instill a culture that drives engagement at all levels.

Related: What's That Behind You! Why Paranoia is Good for Business.

Most recently, more than one market expert was left perplexed when Apple announced its plan to acquire Beats Music. As a long-time technology and product partner to Apple but a competitor to Beats, we at HARMAN are assessing how this unexpected marriage might affect our own business.

In today's increasingly converging technology environment, traditional roles are blurred and competitors and partners are often one and the same. Fortunately, we have prepared our business for competition and change by continuously evaluating the market environment and adding strength and resources strategically so that when new developments arise, we aren't asleep at the wheel.

This brings us to the "confidence" side of the equation. Anyone who has launched or led an enterprise has to have the confidence -- along with the team, resources and intelligence -- to make bold moves. This might be a significant investment in proprietary technology, abandoning a big idea that you realize is flawed or acquiring a company to diversify your business. Of course, such bold moves must be made thoughtfully and strategically.

The next disruptive innovations can come from anyone, anywhere -- from Silicon Valley, Bangalore, Sao Paulo or Shanghai. They may come from large conglomerates or startups, a direct competitor or a new entrant.

Anticipating the future is an impossible task, but the best leaders maintain an active awareness of their environment and make a point to step back from the day to day to ask tough questions. They look within and look around.

While our parents may have admonished us not to worry about what our peers were doing, in business, don't worry about them, but don't ignore them either.

Dinesh Paliwal

President and CEO of HARMAN

Dinesh Paliwal is president and chief executive officer of HARMAN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Paliwal took the helm of Harman in 2007.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business Ideas

This Teacher Sells Digital Downloads for $10. Her Side Hustle Now Makes Six Figures a Month: 'It Seems Too Good to Be True, But It's Not.'

When one middle school teacher needed to make some extra income, she started a remote side hustle with no physical products and incredibly low overhead. Now she brings in six figures each month, and offers courses teaching others how to do the same.

Living

'I Haven't Ticked All the Boxes Yet.' Hilary Duff Reveals Her Next Venture After More Than 2 Decades in the Spotlight — and the Surprisingly Relatable Key to Her Enduring Success

The actor talks entrepreneurship, secrets to success and her latest role as chief brand director for Below 60°, a product line of air fragrances.

Leadership

Great Leaders Must Be Great Coaches — Here's How to Become One

To be a successful leader, you must become an expert in how to help others grow and develop. Here's a research-driven approach for entrepreneurial leaders to coach and effectively develop their teams.

Leadership

How to Win Over the Room With Effective Persuasion Skills

The art of persuasion is not just about the notes, the data, and the pitch; it's about creating a connection that resonates with the audience. We explore how a blend of story, active listening, and genuine interaction can not only capture attention but also win hearts and minds, setting the stage for achieving success in any meeting.

Business News

An Ivy League University Is Teaching the Secret of Taylor Swift's Success

Several major universities have added courses dedicated to studying Swift's star power.

Marketing

Google Is About to Delete Inactive Accounts. Here's How to Avoid A Massive Gmail Bounce Rate.

Google will start deleting inactive accounts soon. For businesses like yours, that means many Gmail contacts will probably bounce. Here's how you can avoid that – and keep your business emails landing in the inbox.