copyright © pma 2002 polarity map ™ 0 our gift of polarities for you and those you coach the...

Copyright © PMA 2002 Polarity Map ™ 1

Our Gift of Polarities For You and Those You Coach

The Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara

Presented by: Barry Johnson

April 5, 2008

This material is based on work by Barry Johnson and Polarity Management Associates


Purpose To enhance your personal life and coaching performance.

Objectives 1. Improve your effectiveness and the effectiveness of those you coach in addressing the 5 “Cs”:

Complexity – Seeing The Forest and The Trees Change – Convert resistance to change into a resource for Stability and Change. Conflict – Create “Win/Win” outcomes by tapping value pairs Chronic Issues – Convert chronic problems into ongoing opportunities. Cross Cultural Issues – Celebrate and capitalize on differences.

2. By Learning:The value of either/or thinkingThe value of both/and thinkingTo distinguish between problems to solve and polarities to manageHow all polarities look and work The four action steps for managing polarities well over time

3. So that at the end of the workshop you will have made real progress in three areas:Looking at your own coaching through a polarity lens.

Coaching with a focus on organizational change from a polarity perspective. Your ability to apply Polarity Management™ in your personal and professional life.


InhaleExhale

Get Oxygen

Too Much

Carbon Dioxide

Clean Out

Carbon Dioxide

Lack of

Oxygen


RestActivity

Positive Results: Positive Results:

Negative Results:Negative Results:


GPS = Greater Purpose StatementEffective Leader

Deeper Fear from Lack of Balance?Ineffective Leader

Basic Action Steps to Manage a Polarity Well Over Time

* Thanks to John Scherer, Center for Work and the Human Spirit ** Thanks to The Strategy Academy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

*** Thanks to Todd Johnson, Rivertown Consultants

*

**Positive results from focusing on this

left pole:

What I Value too much of which can lead to the quadrant below:

Positive results from focusing on this right pole:

At those times I would like to be more…

Negative results of over-focusing on this left pole to the neglect of the right pole:

Sometimes I think I am too…

Negative results of over-focusing on this right pole to the neglect of the left pole:

What I fear if I do too much of the quadrant above to the neglect of the upper left quadrant:

Early Warnings***

Measurable indicators (things you can count) that will let you know that you are getting into the downside of this left pole.

1.

Early WarningsMeasurable indicators (things you can count)

that will let you know that you are getting into the downside of this right pole.

1.

Action StepsHow will we gain or maintain the positive

results from focusing on this right pole? What? Who? By When? Measures?

1.


results from focusing on this left pole? What? Who? By When? Measures?

1.


Competitive Advantage

Can’t Compete

andAutonomousBusiness Units


The Polarity Management™ Process – 6 Steps

2 - IncludeKey Stakeholders

1 -Define the Issue

6 – Action Steps and Early Warnings

4 - Understand How Polarities Work

3 - Build the Polarity Map

5 – Assess Realities With This Polarity

Polarity

Paradox

Dilemma1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8


Step One - Define the Difficulty

The client is or should be moving from: And is or should be moving to:

Individually first: (2 minutes)

List the most important things your clients are dealing with today:

What are the most exciting possibilities?

What are the most difficult, chronic problems?

As a table team: (3 minutes)

Compare notes, identify themes and choose one possibility/problem to work on:


**

*

Fears = Negative results from over-focusing on the right pole to the neglect of the left pole

Values = Positive results from focusing on the right pole

Fears = Negative results from over-focusing on the left pole to the neglect of the right pole

Values = Positive results from focusing on the left pole

Greater Purpose Statements (GPS) - why balance this polarity?

Deeper Fear from lack of balance

Early WarningsMeasurable indicators (things you can count) that will let you know that you are getting into the downside of this right pole.

Early Warnings***


Action StepsHow will we gain or maintain the positive results from focusing on this left pole? What? Who? By When? Measures?

Action StepsHow will we gain or maintain the positive results from focusing on this right pole? What? Who? By When? Measures?

&&

Basic Steps to Managing a Polarity Well Over Time


Competitive Advantage

Can’t Compete

1.

2.

3.

4.

1.

2.

3.

4.

1.

2.

3.

4.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Negative Results of Over-focusing on Stability to the Neglect of

Change

Neutral Name of Left Pole

Positive Results of Focusing on

Stability

Why?

Guide to Polarity Map Content

Negative Results of Over-focusing on Change to the Neglect of Stability

Neutral Name of Right Pole

Positive Results of Focusing on Change

GPS = Greater Purpose Statement

Deeper Fear

*

* Thanks to John Scherer, Center for Work and the Human Spirit

ChangeStability


&Novel

(Change)Familiar

(Stability)

Familiar (Stability) & Novel (Change)

Based on “The Neuroscience of Leadership” by David Rock and Jeffrey Schwartz


Effective Leadership

Ineffective Leadership

• Rigidly in a rut and unable to respond to new challenges

• Lack of innovation and creativity• Staff bored with lack of ideas or

new opportunities

• Clear direction• Completion of projects• Satisfaction and energy from

sense of accomplishment

• Lack of direction• Projects not completed• Staff overwhelmed with projects

and frustrated with lack of accomplishment

• Flexibility in responding to new challenges

• Innovation and creativity is stimulated

• Satisfaction and energy from new opportunities

andBeing Expansive Being Focused


**

*

Fears = Negative results from over-focusing on the right pole to the neglect of the left pole

Values = Positive results from focusing on the right pole

Fears = Negative results from over-focusing on the left pole to the neglect of the right pole

Values = Positive results from focusing on the left pole

Greater Purpose Statements (GPS) - why balance this polarity?

Deeper Fear from lack of balance

Early WarningsMeasurable indicators (things you can count) that will let you know that you are getting into the downside of this right pole.

Early Warnings***


Action StepsHow will we gain or maintain the positive results from focusing on this left pole? What? Who? By When? Measures?

Action StepsHow will we gain or maintain the positive results from focusing on this right pole? What? Who? By When? Measures?

&&

Basic Steps to Managing a Polarity Well Over Time


Problem or Polarity? – Four Lenses1. Is the difficulty ongoing, like breathing?

yes = probably a polarity to manageno = probably a problem to solve.

2. Are there two alternatives that are interdependent, meaning you can only focus on one pole for so long before you are required to focus on the other pole, like inhaling and exhaling.


3. Is it necessary, over time, for you to have both identified upsides”yes = probably a polarity to manageno = probably a problem to solve.

4. Will focusing on one upside to the neglect of the other eventually undermine your efforts to move toward your higher purpose.



GPS Greater Purpose Statement:

Deeper Fear from Lack of Balance?

Basic Action Steps to Manage a Polarity Well Over Time

* Thanks to John Scherer, Center for Work and the Human Spirit ** Thanks to The Strategy Academy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

*** Thanks to Todd Johnson, Rivertown Consultants

*

**


results from focusing on this right pole? What? Who? By When? Measures?

1.

Action StepsHow will we gain or maintain the positive results

from focusing on this left pole? What? Who? By When? Measures?

1.

Early Warnings***

Measurable indicators (something you can count) that you are getting the downsides of this left pole. Who will know?

Early WarningsMeasurable indicators (something you can

count) that you are getting the downsides of this right pole. Who will know?

How will we gain or maintain the positive results from

focusing on each pole? What Action Steps will

be taken? Who will be accountable? When? by date or

frequency Measures of improvement?

What will be observable / measurable Early Warning

indicators that will let you know you are in the downside of each

pole? Who will know?


Barry Johnson, PhDPolarity Management Associates1496 Manitou LaneMiddleville, MI. 49333616-233-3291bjohnson@polaritymanagement.comwww.polaritymanagement.com

copyright © pma 2002 polarity map ™ 0 our gift of polarities for you and those you coach the...

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