Leveraging Polarities for Individuals, Organizations & Nations

Copyright © PMA 2002
Polarity Map ™ 1
Leveraging Polarities
For Individuals, Organizations, & Nations
Systems Thinking In Action
Presented by: Barry Johnson
April 2014
This material is based on work by Barry Johnson and Polarity Management Associates

Polarity Map ™ 2
Three Parts:
• Personal History
• Polarity Thinking
• Justice AND Mercy

Polarity Map ™ 3
Personal History – First Protest 1963
I have a dream…200,000 gather

Polarity Map ™ 4
East Harlem - Civil Rights 1965 - 1970

Polarity Map ™ 5
Clergy and Laity Concerned
About Viet Nam 1966
Refuse Induction 1968

Polarity Map ™ 6
Learn how to create healthy systems
rather than just protest unhealthy
systems. 1969 – 1975
Gestalt Institute of Cleveland 1973-75
First Polarity Map – 1975
Last 39 years learning about polarities

Polarity Map ™ 7
Effective Leadership
This material is based on work by Barry Johnson and Polarity Partnerships LLC – www.polaritypartnerships.com
Clear Flexible
Rigid Ambiguous
Tight Looseand

Polarity Map ™ 8
Visionary Groundedand

Polarity Map ™ 9
Self Assured Humbleand

Polarity Map ™ 10
Directive Participativeand

Polarity Map ™ 11
Task Relationshipand

Polarity Map ™ 12
Decentralize
Parts
Centralize
Whole
and
Effective Organization

Polarity Map ™ 13
Short Term Long Termand

Polarity Map ™ 14
Profitability Growthand

Polarity Map ™ 15
Cost Qualityand

Polarity Map ™ 16
Continuity Transformationand

Polarity Map ™ 17
Why leverage polarities?
Move toward your preferred future
faster and more sustainably
Increase you capacity to see-love
yourself and others more completely
Make a difference and enjoy life

Polarity Map ™ 18
Tense
Overwhelmed
Boring
Loss of Energy
Relaxed
Rejuvenated
Stimulated
Challenged
Activity Restand

Polarity Map ™ 19
Activity Rest

Polarity Map ™ 20
* 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
*
**
and
Increased
endurance
Muscles build
Run a Marathon
RestActivity
Muscle injury Muscle atrophy
Can’t Run a Marathon
Actions Steps: Actions Steps:
Run further
on each
workout day
Get adequate
down time
between
workout days
Early Warnings: Early Warnings:
Feeling tired
when you
wake up in
the morning
Missing a
workout day
Greater Purpose

Polarity Map ™ 21
Can’t Complete Marathon
Muscles Atrophy
Lethargic
Achy Muscles
Exhausted
Rest
Finish Marathon
Stimulated
Muscles Condition
Rejuvenated
Muscles Rest/Develop
Activity

Polarity Map ™ 22
Can’t Complete Marathon
Muscles Atrophy
Lethargic
Achy Muscles
Exhausted
Rest
Finish Marathon
Stimulated
Muscles Condition
Rejuvenated
Muscles Rest/Develop
Activity

Polarity Map ™ 23
Healthy Life
Unhealthy Life
and
Relaxed
Rejuvenated
Stimulated
Challenged
Rest
Tense
Overwhelmed
Bored
Loss of Energy
Activity

Polarity Map ™ 24
Independence Interdependenceand
Systems Thinking

Polarity Map ™ 25
Parts Partsand
Systems Thinking

Polarity Map ™ 26
Parts Wholesand
Systems Thinking
Over Time

Polarity Map ™ 27
Left Pole Right Poleand
Polarity Thinking is Systems Thinking
The most basic system is 2

Polarity Map ™ 28
Polarity assumptions:
Seeing is Loving – Jack Gibb
If we can see a person, organization or
country completely, we will love them.
A polarity lens helps us see ourselves
and others more completely –
increasing our capacity to love.

Polarity Map ™ 29
Polarity assumptions:
No person,
organization or
nation is above
accountability… Or, below forgiveness
ANDJustice Mercy

Polarity Map ™ 30
GoodEvil
Either/or Assumptions about good and evil:
1. The more you move toward good the more you move away from evil.

Polarity Map ™ 31
GoodEvil
2. Laws with conseqences are good

Polarity Map ™ 32
GoodEvil
3. More laws = better

Polarity Map ™ 33
GoodEvil
4. Harsher consequencs = better

Polarity Map ™ 34
GoodEvil
2. Laws with consequences are good
4. Harsher consequences = better
5. Action = stone a woman to death for being pregnant an not married.
We do it with self-righteous indignation.
Evil

Polarity Map ™ 35
What would you do?

Polarity Map ™ 36
Me Not Meand
Deflect and Project on “Not Me”
Should be: Good
Honest
Smart = IQ
Hold Power
Can’t access: Good
Diplomatic
High EQ
Share Power
Become: Evil
Cruel
Low EQ
Abuse Power
Can’t be: Evil
Dishonest
Stupid = IQ
Weak
Fear!

Polarity Map ™ 37
Me Not Meand
Should be: Good
Honest
Smart = IQ
Hold Power
Diplomatic
High EQ
Share Power
Become: Evil
Cruel
Low EQ
Abuse Power
Can’t be: Evil
Dishonest
Stupid = IQ
Weak

Polarity Map ™ 38
Me Not Meand
Should be: Good
Honest
Smart = IQ
Hold Power
Diplomatic
High EQ
Share Power
Become: Evil
Cruel
Low EQ
Abuse Power
Can’t be: Evil
Dishonest
Stupid = IQ
Weak
Fear!

Polarity Map ™ 39
White
Privileged
Color
Underprivilegedand
Should be: Good
Honest
Smart = IQ
Hold Power
Diplomatic
High EQ
Share Power
Become: Evil
Cruel
Low EQ
Abuse Power
Can’t be: Evil
Dishonest
Stupid = IQ
Weak
✔✔Accountable Loved
Fear!

Polarity Map ™ 40
United States Russiaand
Deflect and Project on the “Evil Empire”
Should be: Good
Capitalism
Freedom
Communism
Equality
Become: Evil
Capitalism
Inequality
Can’t be: Evil
Communism
Lose Freedom
✔✔Accountable Loved
Fear!

Polarity Map ™ 41
Restorative Justice
Injustice
Grace
General Amnesty - Chile
Law
Nuremburg Trials - Germany
National amnesia; simmering
resentments by the victims of
Apartheid as their experiences
were denied once again; a past
that continues to haunt
because it has not been dealt
with adequately.
Bloody coup by police or military;
huge financial burden of defending
state employees; impossibility of
meeting legal standards to prove guilt
in cases with no surviving witnesses;
simmering resentment by accused and
their families; a perpetuation of a cycle
of violence and retribution.
Justice and
Accountability;
punishment of aggressors
for crimes committed;
satisfaction for victims at
seeing justice done; and,
the importance of
remembering the past.
and
Peace and reconciliation;
focus on forgiveness, healing
and the future; avoid
provoking a military coup;
save limited funds to build for
the future and address the
needs of the historically
disadvantaged.

Polarity Map ™ 42
Restorative Justice
Injustice
Truth and Reconciliation
*
**
Positive results from focusing on this
left pole:
Justice and Accountability;
Punishment of aggressors for
crimes committed;
Satisfaction for victims at
seeing justice done; and,
The past is remembered
right pole:
Peace and reconciliation;
Focus on forgiveness, healing
and the future;
Avoid provoking a military coup.
Save limited funds to build for
the future and address needs of
historically disadvantaged.
Negative results of over-focusing on
this left pole to the neglect of the
right pole:
Bloody coup - police or military;
Huge $ burden of defending
state employees;
Impossible to meet standards to
prove guilt in cases with no
surviving witnesses;
Simmering resentment by
accused and their families; and,
Perpetuation of a cycle of
violence and retribution.
this right pole to the neglect of the
left pole:
National amnesia;
Simmering resentments by the
victims of Apartheid as their
experiences were denied once
again;
A past that continues to haunt
because it has not been dealt
with adequately.
and
Grace
General Amnesty
Chile
Law
Nuremburg Trials
Germany
Action Steps
How will we gain or maintain the positive
results from focusing on this right pole?
What? Who? By When? Measures?
1.Offer amnesty for abuses
to which offenders have
publicly admitted during the
process.
2.Give victims and victims
families an opportunity to
forgive and lighten the load
of resentment and rage.
3.Give the abusers an
opportunity for admission
and forgiveness.
Action Steps
results from focusing on this left pole? What?
Who? By When? Measures?
1.Have people come forward
and publicly own up to
abuses they committed
under apartheid.
2.Bring the victims and the
victim’s family to the session
in which the abuses to them
or their family is admitted.

Polarity Map ™ 43
Why leverage polarities?

Polarity Map ™ 44
Continuity Transformationand
Move toward your preferred future
faster and more sustainably

Polarity Map ™ 45
Justice Mercyand
Increase you capacity to see-love
yourself and others more completely

Polarity Map ™ 46
Doing Beingand
Make a difference and enjoy life
We can do this! Love, Barry

Polarity Map ™ 47
Polarities are energy systems that are:
1. Unavoidable
2. Unsolvable
3. Indestructible
4. Unstoppable
5. Free
6. Leverage-able

Polarity Map ™ 48
Higher Purpose = Why Balance This Polarity?
Deeper Fear from Lack of Balance?
Generic Part & Whole Polarity
*
**
left pole:
1. Freedom
2. Uniqueness
3. Initiative of
each part
Positive results from focusing on this right
pole:
1.Equality
2.Connectedness
3.Synergy of all
parts
right pole:
1.Inequality
2.Isolation
3.Lack of
coordination
left pole:
1.Over-control
2.Sameness
3.Excess
Conformity
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 Warnings
that will let you know that you are getting
into the downside of this right pole.
1.
Action Steps
1.
Action Steps
results from focusing on this left pole?
1.
WholePart

Polarity Map ™ 49
Polarity Map © 1992, 2008 Polarity Management Associates, LLC
Values = positive results from focusing on
the left pole
the right pole
Fears = negative results from over-focusing
on the left pole to the neglect of the right pole
on the right pole to the neglect of the left pole
Deeper Fear from lack of balance
Greater Purpose Statement (GPS) - why balance this polarity?*
**
andPart Whole
Thriving Nation
Declining Nation
• Freedom (liberty)
• that among these are
life liberty and the
pursuit of happiness.
• Equality
• We hold these truths
to be self-evident that
all men are created
equal, that they are
endowed by their
Creator with certain
unalienable rights
• Inequality • Loss of Freedom
Polarity Management®
Map
Declaration of
Independence

Polarity Map ™ 50
Polarity Map © 1992, 2008 Polarity Management Associates, LLC
the left pole
the right pole
Greater Purpose Statement (GPS) - why balance this polarity?*
**
andPart Whole
Thriving Nation
Declining Nation
• Freedom (liberty)
• Four score and seven
years ago our fathers
brought forth on this
continent, a new
nation conceived in
liberty,
• Equality
• And dedicated to the
proposition that all
men are created equal.
• Inequality • Loss of Freedom
Polarity Management®
Map
Gettysburg
Address

Polarity Map ™ 51
VS

Polarity Map ™ 52
and WholePart
Thriving Democracy
Declining Democracy

Polarity Map ™ 53
Thriving Democracy
Declining Democracy
*
**
left pole:
Tea Party
1. Freedom
2. Uniqueness
3. Initiative of
each part
left pole:
Big Government
1.Over-control
2.Sameness
3.Excess
Conformity
WholePart
Tea Party Point of View

Polarity Map ™ 54
Thriving Democracy
Declining Democracy
*
**Positive results from focusing on this right
pole:
Occupy Wall Street
1.Equality
2.Connectedness
3.Synergy of all
parts
right pole:
Big Money
1.Inequality
2.Isolation
3.Lack of
coordination
WholePart
Occupy Wall Street Point of View

Polarity Map ™ 55
Thriving Democracy
Declining Democracy
*
**
left pole:
Tea Party
1. Freedom
2. Uniqueness
3. Initiative of
each part
Positive results from focusing on this right
pole:
Occupy Wall Street
1.Equality
2.Connectedness
3.Synergy of all
parts
right pole:
Big Money
1.Inequality
2.Isolation
3.Lack of
coordination
left pole:
Big Government
1.Over-control
2.Sameness
3.Excess
Conformity
Early Warnings***
that will let you know that you are getting into
the downside of this left pole.
1.
Early Warnings
that will let you know that you are getting
into the downside of this right pole.
1.
Action Steps
1.
Regulation
Action Steps
1.
Deregulation
Equality
Whole
Freedom
Part
Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street

Polarity Map ™ 56
Early Warnings
Measurable indicators (things you can
count) that will let you know that you are
getting into the downside of this right pole.
Early Warnings***
Measurable indicators (things you can
count) that will let you know that you are
getting into the downside of this left pole.
Action Steps
Action Steps
What? Who? By When? Measures? Values = positive results from focusing on
the left pole
the right pole
Greater Purpose Statement (GPS) - why balance this polarity?
*
**
&
Healthy Safe World
Unhealthy, Unsafe World
Mercy with
Forgiveness
Justice with
Consequences
1. Increase in the number of
laws and harshness of
punishment.
2. Increase in blaming and
expressed hatred for
others.
1. Increased abuse of the
less powerful by the more
powerful.
2. Increased complaints of
uncertainty, fear and
chaos.
1. Treat all people with
dignity, love, and
compassion.
2. Listen to people,
regardless of status.
3. Recognize your self in the
other.
1. Agree on laws to live by.
2. Agree on consequences.
3. Agree on fair processes to
determine guilt or
innocence.
Laws with consequences
provide order and
accountability. They also
provide predictability,
protection, consequential
thinking and community
through shared agreements
and compliance.
Grace with forgiveness
provides unconditional love
and hope. They also provide
relief, gratitude, and
community membership, in
spite of noncompliance.
Laws and consequences
without grace and forgiveness
leads to guilt, and despair. It
also leads to being judgmental,
legalistic punitive, and the loss
of community membership
through noncompliance.
Grace and forgiveness without
laws and consequences leads
to disorder, and no
accountability. It also leads to
vulnerability to bullies while no
shared agreements undermines
community.
The Infinity Factor™ Within Justice and Mercy

Polarity Map ™ 57
*
& WholePart
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
Seeing Evil
in Ourselves
Seeing Evil
in Others
ImpactIntent
Other RelianceSelf Reliance
Both/And
Thinking
Either/Or
Thinkng
StabilityChange
MercyJustice
SpiritualSecular
&
Seeing
Greatness in
Others
Seeing
Greatness
in Self
Inequality and Isolation -
Lack of the spiritual -
Guilt, judgementalism -
And projection
Imposition on others,
chaos -
I am right and you are
wrong -
Power hoarding -
Neglect of impact -
Self righteous
indignation -
Arrogant condescention
-Loss of Freedom
-Lack of science
-Overtolerating
victomization
-Rigid unresponsive
-Indecisive
-Excessive dependency
-Politically correct and
immobilized
-Feeling guilty and
deserve punishment
-Ignoring own potential

Leveraging Polarities for Individuals, Organizations & Nations

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

More from Jake Jacobs

More from Jake Jacobs (8)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Leveraging Polarities for Individuals, Organizations & Nations

Editor's Notes