Polarity Mapping

Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems

Problems

• Red Car, White Car• What movie to see• Which restaurant to go to• Which pump to buy• What kind of band aid

Problems without solutions

• Times of rapid change• Complex environments• Dilemmas in culture, leadership, strategy and

daily living• Energies sparring off• I have 2 dogs – compact vs SUV

Why are we doing it? Why should I care?

• Helps to achieve your changes• Speeds up the process – works through

resistance• Sustainability• Manages change• Stay in positive energy states to be

indestructible and unstoppable

Leaders and Managers that manage their polarities well out-perform those

that don’t

How do you know when you have a polarity to manage?

• Is the difficulty ongoing?

• Are there two poles which are independent?

Examples

• System centered/client centered• Centralization/decentralization• Top down/bottom up• Cost/Quality• Short term/long term• Tradition bearers/Innovators• Competition/Collaboration• Directive leadership/Flexible leadership

Tradition Bearers Innovators

Either/ Or

Clear Leader Flexible Leader

Polarity Two-StepStarts in either quadrant

RigidImpractical“He won’t listen”“It’s my way or the highway”

Clear DirectionsClear GuidelinesClear visionClear expectations

FlexibleListens to ReasonWilling to adjust to situationsEasy to work with

AmbiguityLack of Direction“Too wishy-washy”“You never know where she stands”

The Misunderstood Leader

Tradition Bearers Innovators

POLARITY MAP

BOTH / ANDBOTH / AND

Clear Leader Flexible Leader

Stay in the positive

RigidImpractical“He won’t listen”“It’s my way or the highway”

Clear DirectionsClear Guidelines“She let’s us know what she is expecting”“He has a clear vision and sticks with it!”

Flexible“Listens to Reason”“Willing to adjust to new circumstances”

AmbiguityLack of Direction“Too wishy-washy”“You never know where she stands”

Avoid the negative – these are warning signs.

PAUSE FOR QUESTIONS?

Practice Time

Examples of groups

• Nurse and Physicians• Surgeons and Anesthetists• LPNs and Health Care Aides• Quality Improvement and Risk Management• Many, Many others

CBODN Presented by: Barry Johnson and Cliff Kayser April 30, 2010 This book belongs to _____________________This material is based on work by Barry Johnson and Polarity Management Associates

Tapping The Infinity Factor™ Within Yourself, Your Family, Country, Humanity, Nature, and Spirit

Focus on the ‘anatomy’ of change

The structures, levers, systems, and process to drive

change

Focus on the ‘physiology’ of change

The ‘life forces’ that create energy, engagement,

confidence, mobilization for change

Polarities to manage for change at scale – NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement – Leading Large Scale Change – 2011 – Bernard

Crump/Helen Bevan

ComplianceHierarchies, systems

and standardized procedures for co-

ordination and control

CommitmentCo-ordination and

control mechanisms based on shared goals,

values, and sense of purpose

2 examples at scale

Polarity Mapping is NOT:

A few resources

Johnson, Barry, Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems. Amherst: HRD Press, 1992, 1996.

Johnson, B., Kayser, C. Tapping the Infinity Factor PPT 2010 (Tons of resources in a Bibliography here)

Bevan, H., Crump, B. Polarities to manage for change at scale – NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement – Leading Large Scale Change. 2011

Katie Procter – Quality LeaderBC Patient Safety and Quality Councilwww.bcpsqc.cakprocter@bcpsqc.caOffice: 778.480.5620BB: 250.575.4770