Polarity Thinking
Creating sustainable results for leaders, teams and organizations
THE RESEARCH IS CLEAR
Leaders, Teams & Organizations that leverage Polarities outperform those that don't.
What is Polarity Thinking?
A mindset and skillset rooted in two vital thinking competencies:
- “Either/or” thinking that solves complicated technical challenges; and,
- “Both/and” thinking that leverages ongoing polarity tensions for effectiveness
Purpose:
In today's world of increasing interdependency and complexity, it is vital to utilize problem solving AND both/and thinking to address your most strategic challenges and opportunities. The research is clear - leaders, teams and organizations that leverage Polarities well outperform those that don't. By learning how to leverage your most strategic Polarities (AKA paradox, wicked problems, chronic tensions, dilemmas, etc.) you become more innovative, agile, profitable and competitive immediately and over time.
WHO CAN BENEFIT?
- Healthcare Executives
- Physician Leaders
- Mid-level leaders
- All staff
- Every human being
Healthcare Applications:
The Polarity Approach to Continuity and Transformation (PACT)™ has been applied in the following contexts at all levels of system (individual, team, organization, community):
- Nursing and Physician Leadership Academy: supplementing problem-solving- either/or thinking with systems awareness -both/and thinking. We purposefully brought physicians and nurses together to leverage their common polarities in communication styles and approach.
- Succession Planning: Expanding the systemic thinking capacity for high potential leaders
- Leadership Development--360-development process: normalizing the development process so that feedback can be absorbed and utilized for sustainable change
- Vision, Mission and Culture Alignment: Engaging key stakeholders in defining interrelated tensions to facilitate sustainable culture and not “flavor of the month” based on changes in leadership. Used during mergers and acquisitions to retain the best of what is while leveraging what’s necessary to meet future needs.
- Well-Being: creating sustainable health for all; leveraging care for self AND care for others.
- Conflict and Diversity: honoring of all perspectives and integrating to support individual, team, and organizational health and success. Use polarity mapping to support diversity AND equity/ inclusion.
- Team Development: Clinical Care Providers and Operations- Support Departments
- National Physician Practice Organization: Leveraging centralized/ corporate needs and decentralized- local market demands.
- CEO/ Executive Selection: Identifying key tensions and designing behavioral questions to determine a leader’s capacity to think systemically and manage complexity
- Organizational Design and Structure: see culture alignment
Interested in a data-driven and methodical approach to sustainable change?
Read chapters written by our partners and colleagues:
