4.5 Polarity Management (Johnson)
Maps where you are in the natural cycle of birth, growth, maturity, and creative destruction. Launch on platform.
What is it?
Polarity Management, developed by organizational theorist Barry Johnson, is a practical decision-making approach for effectively managing chronic, unsolvable dilemmas. Unlike traditional problem-solving, Polarity Management recognizes that some issues aren’t problems to solve, but ongoing polarities to balance. It helps leaders clearly identify and manage these competing tensions productively.
Why is it useful?
Applying Polarity Management helps you to:
Navigate complexity clearly: Identify persistent tensions that can’t be permanently resolved but must be continuously balanced. Reduce conflict: Shift discussions from either/or debates to both/and thinking. Enhance decision-making: Clearly recognize interconnected, interdependent choices to avoid unintended negative outcomes. Sustain organizational balance: Keep systems and teams dynamically stable by managing competing priorities effectively.
How does it work?
The Analyst operates through a structured and rigorous analytical sequence:
Identify Polarities
Characteristics: Clearly distinguish issues as polarities rather than solvable problems.
Approach: Recognize tensions that recur over time and resist permanent resolution.
Example: Centralization vs. decentralization, stability vs. innovation, short-term results vs. long-term goals.
Map Polarities
Characteristics: Visually represent positive and negative aspects of each pole.
Approach: Clearly identify benefits and downsides of each side, creating shared understanding.
Example: A map outlining the benefits (clarity, control) and downsides (bureaucracy, rigidity) of centralized management.
Assess Polarities
Characteristics: Clearly evaluate the current balance between poles and identify where tensions exist.
Approach: Regularly measure and monitor indicators to assess which pole requires attention.
Example: Employee surveys indicating excessive bureaucracy (too centralized), or lack of clarity (too decentralized).
Actively Manage Polarities
Characteristics: Continuously balance and adjust between poles rather than choosing one pole exclusively.
Approach: Take clear actions to maintain benefits from both poles, while minimizing negative impacts.
Example: Establish clear communication channels for decentralized teams, while maintaining core centralized oversight for alignment.
Turning Polarity Management into Action
To practically apply Polarity Management:
Clearly communicate: Share and visualize polarities widely within your team to encourage balanced perspectives.
Set measurable indicators: Define clear metrics to indicate when balance shifts and adjustments are needed.
Regularly reassess: Continuously review polarities and adjust dynamically as conditions change.
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