Can you hold two opposing ideas in your mind at the same time? Polarity thinking is a way of framing the world and the issues we face from a new view. Barry Johnson brings these ideas to the forefront, and you can learn more about his work in his third book called AND: Making a Difference by Leveraging Polarity, Paradox or Dilemma
Johnson’s works can help you think about particularly difficult personal and business challenges. Think of polarity thinking as a way to solve complex systems problems.
Are you familiar with the famous goblet and women image below? Most people either see the two women’s faces or the goblet. You can’t hold both images in your mind at the same time.
Activity and Rest – Interdependent Pairs
As humans, we are always in that polarity between activity and rest. If we are going to prepare for a marathon, we need to be at both ends of the polarity – in action practicing and preparing to run AND resting to allow our muscles to heal. The infinity loop, when centered, means there is a balance between these polarities.
Leveraging Polarities
Polarity shows up in life as a pair. No one thinks we should pick one between inhaling and exhaling. Both poles need each other. Difficult problems, when seen through this polarity mindset can help you understand problems with a fresh perspective.
As an example, polarity means being straightforward AND flexible. Often it helps to be both at the same time.
We need to maximize both clarity and flexibility – that makes you a more effective leader.
Interdependent Pairs
Here are examples of polarities that need balance and leverage for a leader or manager to be effective:
- Visionary and grounded
- Self and Others
- Local and Global
- Tradition and Change
- Justice and Mercy
- Planning and Action
- Direct and indirect
- Decentralize and centralize
- Short term and long term
- Continuity and change
- Static and dynamic
- Challenging and supportive
- Self-assured and being humble
- Direct and kind
- Work-life and home life
Work life and home life aren’t binary – an either-or proposition. It is an AND equation.
Think yin and yang.
Leveraging a polarity means you avoid the downside like working so hard you don’t have a home life. Or vice versa. You can’t neglect one pole for the other.
When you look at challenges and see the polarity, the problem becomes clearer as you try to find that balance between opposing poles.
An Example:
Jenny was a first-time CEO. She latched onto a genuinely innovative software idea and has built a team to help her. She tended to be so strong in her direction that she didn’t balance it with a more human side. Through an executive coach, she found that she needed to be both direct and compassionate with her team when she framed work through this polarity lens.
If she leaned in one direction only, say to authoritative – her team pulled back. But when she found the right balance, the work moved forward more effectively.
When Jenny leveraged the tension between directing her team and being more compassionate toward them, she found the tensions between these ideas worked in her favor. She found harmony in this polarity filter.
Learn More
Watch this interview with Barry Johnson to learn more about Barry and his work about polarity in leadership, coaching, and other situations. The framework of polarity thinking can help you understand personal and professional challenges from a new vantage point. There is also a great Ted Talk from Jerusalem by Rabbi Shoshana Boyd Gelfand worth watching too. She brings polarity mindset alive with her engaging presentation.
A polarity filter reminds me of one of my favorite books, The Tao te Ching, where the polarity of a good and a bad man are addressed.
What is a good man but a bad man’s teacher?
What is a bad man but a good man’s job?
If you don’t understand this, you will get lost,
However intelligent you are.
It is a great secret.Lao Tzu in The Tao te Ching
Want to discuss polarity frameworks in the context of your organization or strategy?
I can help.
You can set up a time to chat with me about your marketing challenges using my calendar. Contact me jeffslater@themarketingsage.com – Call me. 919 720 0995. The conversation is free, and we can explore if working together makes sense. Watch a short video about working with me.
Note: This post was inspired by a conversation on my friend Anne Robie’s podcast with a guest named Darren Gold who discussed the polarity mindset.
Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash
Chart from Barry Johnson Presentation – All Rights Reserved
