In leadership, some of our most challenging decisions arise from tensions that seem to pull us in opposite directions. Should I move quickly to action or allow time for reflection? Be directive or empowering? Innovate or maintain stability? These tensions can feel like problems to solve, but in reality, they could also be polarities to navigate.
What Are Polarities?
Dr Barry Johnson, Thought Leader of Polarity Partnerships, describes polarities as ‘…interdependent pairs that need each other over time. They live in us and we live in them. They exist in every level of system from the inside of our brains to global issues’.
Polarities often appear to be in conflict but are actually complementary. Unlike problems, which have clear solutions, polarities require balance and fluidity. You can’t “solve” a polarity — you need to navigate the dynamic tension between opposing forces to harness the benefits of both.
Take Stability and Change as an example:
- Stability provides consistency and predictability, and too much can lead to rigidity and stagnation.
- Change drives growth and innovation, and too much can create chaos and instability.
Effective leadership requires knowing when to lean into stability and when to embrace change, adjusting dynamically based on the demands of the situation.
Common Leadership Polarities
Leadership is full of these interdependent tensions:
- Long-Term AND Short-Term – Maintaining a strategic view while delivering immediate results.
- Profitability AND Responsibility – Driving financial success while upholding ethical and social commitments.
- Structure AND Flexibility – Providing consistency while allowing room for adaptation.
- Confidence AND Humility – Projecting strength while remaining open to feedback and learning.
- Relationship AND Task – Fostering connection while driving performance.
Dr Johnson emphasises that the key to polarity management is recognising when you’re leaning too heavily toward one pole and adjusting toward the other as the context requires. It’s not about balancing them equally at all times — it’s about developing the capacity to shift as needed.
The Leadership Imperative – Navigating Polarities
In this series on Understanding Polarities and Why They Matter in Leadership, we will explore how leaders can develop greater adaptability by navigating polarities at the personal, teams and organisational levels.
By embracing polarities, leaders cultivate adaptability, resilience, and wisdom. Instead of feeling stuck in either/or dilemmas, they develop the agility to move fluidly between perspectives and approaches, allowing them to lead with greater clarity and impact.
For now, we invite you to simply start noticing. Where do polarities exist in your world, and how do they shape your leadership? The more aware we become, the more intentional we can be in navigating them.
In our next Blog we will explore How to Navigate Polarities Within Yourself.
Photos by Aakash Dhage, Adam Borkowski and Nick Fancher on Unsplash
