Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems Paperback – June 12, 2014

Interesting concept but the book feels a bit repetitive and simplistic. it is worth reading though. Clearly makes one think. Good stuff.

Barry Johnson's book heightens the readers' awareness of polarities that play themselves out in our everyday lives.If one can accept the notion that there are many unsolvable problems, the reader can take solace in becoming engaged with the author's thorough explanation of how to identify and manage these polarities. By doing so, the vignettes described are energizing and provide teachable moments.Some of the lessons of the book are:We are taught to look at both the upside and downside of polarities.We see and feel what Johnson calls the `tradition bearing' and `crusading' patterns of behavior.We see and feel that by considering at all sides of a situation, we can participate in a healthy dance between them.We rush `to be right' rather than becoming `accurate and complete.'While some of the concepts are at first difficult to grasp, paradoxically, by following the principles of polarity management itself, the lessons learned can be very powerful and worth the journey.

Initially, when I read the first chapter, I thought this was a very interesting concept. I believe very strongly that many of the decisions we have to make in our personal and professional lives are unfairly categorized as binary...we fund a project, or not...we buy a new house, or not...polarity management (PM) argues that many of the "fixes" that managers implement at work (eg; centralizing decision-making when too much of the decision-making is the field) just set us up for a pendulum of back and forth.Using PM would have a manager consider the upside for both "poles" and do her best to keep the decision-making in a best of both worlds status, as long as can be managed. In theory, I do think this is an interesting way of discussing pole-based issues. The book is easily twice as long as it should be and I didn't find the examples to be terribly relevant.Another issue to bring up is that PM exists on the basis that there are two poles. This can limit decision-making and crush creativity.

Highly recommend to startup founders and any designers of organizations that are meant to both grow and last. Polarity management has changed the way I think about how to make the best of many challenges and opportunities that our company faces.

The invisible fog is trying to solve a problem that can't be solved. It is a fog because the solutions don't work, and it is invisible because focusing on solutions prevents seeing that there isn't a problem to be solved. There is no magic bullet here, and Johnson acknowledges that. What is here are tools for coping with (managing) dualities or polarities inherent in many troublesome situations. Johnson provides the clarity to get above the fog and find a way to address (manage) the situation.The concepts and underlying explanation are a solid 5-star.Four stars because I found just a bit too much padding/repetition for a 5 star book.

Clear and concise; the book teaches great concepts for businesses and individuals. It’s worth a read. I find it helpful when working with groups to go through processes described so that we understand what things would actually look like when they are going well. While we all love to lean on our strengths there's an equilibrium that is necessary to keep work moving forward. This book describes that in a very concrete and clear picture.

I have long been familiar with the difference between 'both/and' vs, 'either/or' thinking and its application to leadership development. This book takes an In depth look at how to more fully understand how this plays out in all sorts of ways in life, career, relationships...you name it. My coaching clients are learning to question their assumptions and realizing they have more options than they thought. In today's VUCA world (see Kevin Cashman's Pause Principle), the ability to explore polarities and the cycle we can get wrapped up into is a huge advantage. Easy to understand with great examples. Really don't even need a coach to gain the benefits.

Simple concept which can have significant application. The author does a good job of laying out his principle of polarity mgmt vs problem solving. Seemed to stay too much on chosen examples. Short and valuable read. Basis for a lot of re-framing going forward.

I used this book at work - it was so helpful to much of my thinking. It is a practical way to avoid excess and extremism which knocks a system out of kilter with negative consequences. I have retired and now feel the need of it in my everyday life (so ordered it for myself) - it is extremely wise and helpful and certainly an excellent tool to plan and think with and the sort of book to have handy to help you think through any problematic situation.

A great book!

When embarking on a major change program, it's all too easy to fall into a narrative in which the old is bad, and the new is good, creating the false impression that the new situation is going to solve all our problems. In most cases, the new situation may be better in some things, but could also be worse in things the current situation is particularly good at. This book shows that very often a change is not so much a solution, but a change in balance between seemingly opposing values. Trying to force change onto people by claiming it will solve our current problems my be accurate for the problems identified, but is also woefully incomplete with respect to many problems left unspoken. This incompleteness then easily leads to resistance, contrary forces finding reasons to fight each other, false absolutes, and conflict. The book offers a great method for examining the polarities of complex change initiatives, bringing to light the promises and pitfalls of both sides of the conflict or tension. I have used this method in my work and have never been disappointed by its effect on the groups I used it with: the simple fact of shining a clear light on all sides of the conflict is often enough to change the dynamics inside the group, and their attitude towards the world around them. I highly recommend this book for anyone dealing with change and conflict in their work environment.

Great book well written. Dealing with life's paradoxes that we come across every day. There is no right or wrong answer. Applicable in all parts of life.

Half of this book is case studies. The process itself could probably be just as well explained in a chapter or two.