Polarity Resources
New Innovations in Polarity Thinking
A first innovation has been in evolving from Polarity Management to Polarity Thinking. Polarity Thinking, similar to Systems Thinking, is a way of seeing the world. Beyond a set of principles and map that had been the cornerstones of Polarity Management, Polarity Thinking becomes a lens through which you can view all of your work and life.
A second insight we’ve included in our most recent work is expanding managing polarities to leveraging polarities. Leveraging opens the door to exploring how we can gain maximum positive impact by understanding and being able to tap the energy and power of polarities in any situation.
A third advance is simplifying what had been a six step process of managing polarities into three:
- Seeing polarities: Recognizing when one or more are significantly impacting the work you’re doing.
- Mapping polarities: Identifying the “upsides” and “downsides” of each pole, what you will achieve by leveraging it well, what will happen if you leverage it poorly.
- Tapping the Power of Polarities: Taking what you’ve learned about how to leverage one well and are putting it into practice in your daily work with desired results. (I sometimes add “Tracking” to this step, since polarities are inherently unsolvable, they must be tracked over time.)
The Polarity Assessment is a step-by-step guide to “Seeing,” “Mapping” and “Tapping” the energy in key polarities for your organizations. It includes a web-based program that enables you to assess how well you are leveraging these polarities — whether you want to engage 10 people or 10,000.
RESOURCES
Great interview with Barry Johnson, PhD by Rick Maurer. Even though it was written in 2002, it provides great background about Barry, the man, origins of Polarity Thinking, and how it’s been applied. Rick Maurer is a talented writer, change consultant, and all-around great guy in his own right. I can’t believe I hadn’t seen this before 2012…
http://www.gestaltreview.com/Portals/0/GR060305.PDF
Article by Cliff Kayser published in the Natural Lifestyle Network entitled, “The ‘Either/Or”‘ and ‘Both/And’ Thinking Distinction –Just Overcomplicating Things? (Yes, if fixes that fail and steadily increasing individual, team, and organizational dysfunction is O.K…)
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Article by Jake Jacobs on Polarities — You’ll love this…
Energy Working For You-Jacobs
White Paper that provides an overview of Polarities and a bit about The Polarity Assessment™ for Organizations
–Learn about the the GAME CHANGING Polarity Assessment for Organizations: a 5-Step Process. Below is an informational brochure on the NEW Polarity Assessment for Organizations
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FREE – Polarity Toolkit! This ”basics” piece includes 10 Principles of Polarities, Cliff’s 4-Step Process, and HOW TO distinguish “either/or” Problems to Solve from “Both/And” Polarities to TAP!
Please send us an e-mail using the “Connect to Xperience” form to make the request!
QUICK TAKES:
One-pager on Polarities–A Primer on Polarities and the value of Tapping Polarities
One pager on the difference between Polarities and problems — One_pg_Description_Polarity Thinking
Two-page starter on Polarities–TIPS_TO_TAP_Polarities
Four-pager on Values Based Leadership BVC2
Polarity Map and map description–developed by Barry Johnson, PhD of Polarity Management Associates
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Old School and unflashy, but info-rich White Paper –Xperience_Polarity Management – Summary
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