S4 Ep11: The Power of Polarity Thinking: How Great Leaders Leverage Opposites

Guest: Dr. Barry Johnson

If you think you have to solve problems, think again. You might be better off leveraging tensions instead!

Dr. Barry Johnson, creator of the Polarity Map®, joins host Maureen Metcalf to explore how “both/and” thinking helps leaders navigate complexity, avoid false choices, and drive sustainable performance. From clarity and flexibility to structure and innovation, Barry shares how thriving organizations—and societies—balance competing values rather than pick sides. It’s called polarity thinking…and it works. Packed with stories from the U.S. Navy, Singapore Airlines, and South Africa, this conversation offers a powerful framework for leading in uncertain times.

Here's what Barry and Maureen cover:

1. Why choosing a side or over-focusing on one side of an issue can lead to conflict, instead of solving it – and, in extreme cases, break down your organization;
2. How high-performing organizations depend on well-managed tension; and
3. Spotting the false choices that will keep your team stuck.

 

Produced in partnership with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/.

 

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

- The Leadership Balancing Act with Michelle Harrison

- A Prime Minister’s Path for Meeting Challenges with George Papandreou

- Navigating Touch Decisions with former Canadian Chief Justic Beverley McLachlin

 

For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.

 

RESOURCES:  

The website to learn more about Barry’s work is https://www.polaritypartnerships.com/.  

 

Barry’s books include And: Making a Difference by Leveraging Polarities, Paradox or Dilemma (on Amazon at https://amzn.to/45gnfO0 ) and Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems (https://amzn.to/3IyjqLx ). 

 

Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 

 

Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8 . The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.

 

Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 

NOTE: As an Amazon partner, we may make a small commission from books you buy through these links.

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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  

Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf

Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko

Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan

Booking Producer: Jenna Reik

CONNECT WITH US: 

YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 

Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 

 

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About Our Guest:  

Barry Johnson created the first Polarity Map® and set of principles in 1975. Since then he has been learning and applying Polarity Thinking® with people and organizations all over the world. He continues to explore and promote supplementing Or-thinking with And-thinking to enhance our quality of life on our planet.

 

With humility And pride, Barry is passionate about creating an international community of Polarity Practitioners who are dedicated to the study and application of Polarities in a variety of disciplines and situations.

 

Barry’s newest publications, And: Volume One – Foundations and And: Volume Two – Applications, represent what he and his colleagues have learned about And-thinking since his first book, Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems, came out in 1992.

 

Barry is an avid outdoorsman and intrepid traveler. He brings his head and heart together in his teaching and c