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An insightful and inspiring book on using "both/and" thinking to make more creative, flexible, and impactful decisions in a world of competing demands.

Life is full of paradoxes. How can we each express our individuality while also being a team player? How do we balance work and life? How can we improve diversity while promoting opportunities for all? How can we manage the core business while innovating for the future?

For many of us, these competing and interwoven demands are a source of conflict. Since our brains love to make either-or choices, we choose one option over the other. We deal with the uncertainty by asserting certainty.

There's a better way.

In Both/And Thinking, Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis help readers cope with multiple, knotted tensions at the same time. Drawing from more than twenty years of pioneering research, they provide tools and lessons for transforming these tensions into opportunities for innovation and personal growth.

Filled with practical advice and fascinating stories—including firsthand tales from IBM, LEGO, and Unilever, as well as from startups, nonprofits, and even an inn at one of the four corners of the world—Both/And Thinking will change the way you approach your most vexing problems.

Table of Contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright
  3. Dedication
  4. Contents
  5. Foreword: The Power of Both/And Thinking in a Vexing World
  6. Introduction: Why Some Problems Are So Challenging
  7. Part One: Foundations: The Promise and Perils of Paradox
  8. Part Two: Approaches: The Paradox System
  9. Part Three: Applications: Both/And Thinking in Practice
  10. Appendix: Paradox Mindset Inventory
  11. Notes
  12. Bibliography
  13. Index
  14. Acknowledgments
  15. About the Authors