Podcasts about solve your toughest problems

Enter to win a copy of Wendy Smith's book "Both/And Thinking"What do you do when you're stuck between two conflicting options? Deliver short-term results or take a long-term view?Focus on business outcomes or people development?Help by being the expert with the answer or a coach asking questions?For most of us, these competing choices are a source of conflict. We deal with uncertainty by asserting certainty that there are two distinct options to choose between.But what if there's a way to embrace both?That's why I invited Wendy Smith – award-winning psychologist and co-author of “Both/And Thinking” – to share her insights on how to make more creative, flexible, and impactful decisions in a world of competing demands.The most successful leaders and change agents have learned the power of navigating paradoxical tradeoffs and reframing problems to discover expansive solutions that didn't initially seem possible. Tune in to learn how to shift from that “either/or” mindset and embrace a “both/and” approach to tackle tough decisions, unlock new possibilities, and lead with greater impact.YOU'LL LEARN:Can you really have it all? – The difference between an and/and vs both/and mindsetA three step process to overcome dilemmas to create a more sustainable outcomeHow to reframe a problem when faced with a seemingly paradoxical choiceThree different patterns of risk when you're not able to shift from the either/or to the both/and thinkingThe benefits of being comfortable with the discomfort of learning something newABOUT MY GUEST:Wendy Smith is the co-author of “Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems,” an award-winning psychologist and professor at the Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. She's spent her career studying paradoxes in leadership and on a mission to help individuals and organizations turn problems into possibilities. Wendy's passion lies in helping leaders tackle the complex challenges of interpersonal dynamics, team performance, organizational change, and innovation to transform their organizations and the world.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/35Connect with Wendy Smith: linkedin.com/in/wendykimsmithWendy's book: bothandthinking.netCheck out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.comFollow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjandersonTIMESTAMPS: 02:12 Misconception of both/and meaning02:44 And/and vs. both/and06:49 Balancing the roles of expert and coach 07:03 Balancing long-term innovation with immediate business needs08:06 3-step process of dealing with dilemma09:50 Expanding on and/and vs both/and12:03 How to approach paradoxical choices15:23 3 patterns of risk when you don't shift to both/and thinking20:15 Getting comfortable with discomfort22:03 Embracing both/and mindset creates growth mindset24:36 Bringing both/and thinking to your personal life25:50 Both/and thinking at the organizational level27:44 Integrating technical process improvement with people development29:35 Enabling both/and thinking at the organizational level Enter to win a copy of Wendy Smith's book "Both/And Thinking" 

Management thought leader and award-winning organizational psychologist Wendy K. Smith is on a mission to help individuals and organizations turn our problems into possibilities.  Smith currently holds the prestigious title of Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and serves as the faculty director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware. Wendy is also one of the youngest people named as an Academy of Management Fellow. As an organizational psychologist, she is a leading expert on the power of paradox - applying both/and thinking to help us innovate, change and generate more creative, sustainable solutions to our toughest challenges. In her talks, Wendy brings science-based research to life with real world stories to both captivate and motivate her audiences. Smith is the co-author of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems, along with Marianne Lewis, named a Top 10 Management Book by Thinkers50, a finalist for the Next Big Idea Award, and a #1 Amazon New Release. Smith and Lewis were awarded the Thinkers50 Breakthrough Idea Award for these groundbreaking ideas. Wendy is also an award-winning scholar. She has been named the Web of Science Highly Cited Researchers for being among the top 1% most-cited researchers for 5 years in a row.

Have you ever wondered why some people find smart innovative solutions to problems, and others stay stuck? In this episode, you'll learn you a simple technique that innovators use to make new products and solve business challenges. And you can also use this methodology for any area of your life, so listen up! You'll learn about the 5 whys process, hear two case studies for how to use it, and get guidelines for how to get started.   Timestamps   00:00 Introduction  02:46 Five Whys Methodology 06:05 Applying the Five Whys: Bakery Example 08:51 Applying the Five Whys: App Development Example 12:01 Effective Use of the Five Whys 13:53 Conclusion   For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/220-how-5-simple-questions-can-solve-your-toughest-problems   For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on: Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora   Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here. Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Making business decisions often means choosing one path over another—but that doesn't always need to be the case. Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis argue that leaders should move beyond “either/or” choices and try to come up with solutions that embrace ambiguity and paradox. In this episode, you'll learn how to reframe the question you're asking in order to get more creative answers. You'll also learn how to shift your own internal thinking away from oppositional relationships and instead focus on interdependencies. Smith is a management professor at the University of Delaware, and Lewis is dean of the University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business. Together they're coauthors of the book Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. Key episode topics include: leadership, decision making and problem solving, tradeoffs, reframing. HBR On Leadership curates the best case studies and conversations with the world's top business and management experts, to help you unlock the best in those around you. New episodes every week. · Listen to the original HBR IdeaCast episode: Decisions Don't Have to Be Either-Or (2022)· Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast.· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org.]]>

In this episode, we are joined again by Wendy Smith,  co-author of 'Both/And Thinking: Embrace Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems.'      Wendy elaborates on the nuances between dilemmas, paradoxes, and tensions, emphasising that these terms are not interchangeable and revealing the psychological and practical implications of recognising and navigating paradoxes. Drawing from her personal experiences and research, Wendy illustrates how both/and thinking can be applied to career decisions, organisational challenges, and broader societal issues. She discusses the limitations of either/or thinking and the harmful patterns it can create, such as intensification, overcorrection, and polarisation.    Using examples from companies like Lego and Gore, Wendy shows how balancing tradition and innovation, centralisation and decentralisation, and other competing demands can lead to more sustainable success. The conversation also delves into the four types of paradoxes: learning, performing, organising, and belonging, and explores strategies to manage these tensions effectively.    This episode is essential for anyone facing complex decisions in their personal or professional life.   00:00 Introduction to Both/And Thinking 00:12 Understanding Tensions and Dilemmas 03:08 Defining Paradox and Its Importance 05:23 Embracing Paradoxes in Real Life 08:00 Conditions That Highlight Paradoxes 16:51 Exploring the Four Types of Paradoxes 23:28 Navigating Organisational Paradoxes 31:23 The Paradox System Framework 36:57 Lego's Journey Through Paradox 45:40 Conclusion and Further Resources   Find Wendy here: And on Substack here:   Wendy Smith, Both and Thinking, Aidan McCullen, innovation, paradox, decision making, leadership, career challenges, tension management, creativity, organisational behaviour, success, problem solving, conflict resolution

In this episode, we are joined by Wendy Smith, co-author of 'Both/And Thinking: Embrace Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems.' Wendy elaborates on the nuances between dilemmas, paradoxes, and tensions, emphasising that these terms are not interchangeable and revealing the psychological and practical implications of recognising and navigating paradoxes. Drawing from her personal experiences and research, Wendy illustrates how both/and thinking can be applied to career decisions, organisational challenges, and broader societal issues. She discusses the limitations of either/or thinking and the harmful patterns it can create, such as intensification, overcorrection, and polarisation. Using examples from companies like Lego and Gore, Wendy shows how balancing tradition and innovation, centralisation and decentralisation, and other competing demands can lead to more sustainable success. The conversation also delves into the four types of paradoxes: learning, performing, organising, and belonging, and explores strategies to manage these tensions effectively. This episode is essential for anyone facing complex decisions in their personal or professional life. 00:00 Introduction to Both/And Thinking 00:12 Understanding Tensions and Dilemmas 03:08 Defining Paradox and Its Importance 05:23 Embracing Paradoxes in Real Life 08:00 Conditions That Highlight Paradoxes 16:51 Exploring the Four Types of Paradoxes 23:28 Navigating Organisational Paradoxes 31:23 The Paradox System Framework 36:57 Lego's Journey Through Paradox 45:40 Conclusion and Further Resources

My guest for Episode #507 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Wendy K. Smith, co-author of the book Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. She's also one of the keynote speakers at this year's AME (Association for Manufacturing Excellence) annual conference. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Enter to win a copy of the book! Wendy is the Dana J. Johnson professor of management and faculty director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware. She earned her PhD in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School, where she began her intensive research on strategic paradoxes—how leaders and senior teams effectively respond to contradictory yet interdependent demands. Working with executives globally, she has been a noted keynote speaker and teacher for audiences worldwide. Her research, published among the top journals in the field, has received numerous awards, including the Web of Science Highly Cited Research Award (2019, 2020, and 2021) for being among the one percent most-cited researchers in her field. Wendy lives in Philadelphia with her husband, three children, and the family dog. In this episode, Wendy discusses strategic paradoxes and how leaders can effectively navigate contradictory yet interdependent demands. Our conversation covers practical examples from Lean Manufacturing and the Toyota Production System, highlighting how "both/and thinking" can lead to innovative solutions and improved performance. Wendy also shares the emotional and cognitive challenges of embracing paradoxes, offering insights into how organizations can create environments that support dynamic, integrative thinking. This episode is a deep dive into the nuances of leadership, organizational behavior, and the power of embracing complexity in problem-solving. Questions, Notes, and Highlights: What are strategic paradoxes? The need or opportunity to break paradoxes? Good examples of both/and thinking in different businesses? Origins in lean manufacturing Just-in-time but hold no inventory High quality but also super fast Focusing on both short-term and long-term? Opportunities for startups to exploit new both/and thinking? Process as a dirty word in startups? We can't vs. we haven't figured it out yet? Both/and focus on customers and employees? Connections to Amy Edmondson and Psychological Safety? The Dr. Brian Goldman TED Talk Give us a preview of your keynote talk for AME? A teaser… The podcast is brought to you by Stiles Associates, the premier executive search firm specializing in the placement of Lean Transformation executives. With a track record of success spanning over 30 years, it's been the trusted partner for the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare sectors. Learn more. This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network. 

John R. Miles shares powerful insight into what it takes to live an intentional and purposeful life. — YOU'LL LEARN — 1) How to feel impervious in the face of adversity and failure 2) How anxiety makes you 400% more effective 3) How to visualize effectively Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep968 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT JOHN — John R. Miles is a worldwide expert on intentional behavior change, leadership, and personal mastery. He is a keynote speaker, top-rated show host, and is the founder and CEO of Passion Struck®. Miles is devoted to promoting personal mastery, fostering an intentional mindset, enhancing health and wellness, and building meaningful relationships. His globally renowned podcast, Passion Struck with John R. Miles, has garnered tens of millions of downloads and consistently tops the charts as the number one alternative health podcast on iTunes. Miles is committed to inspiring people worldwide to believe in their ability to push beyond limits and achieve their aspirations. He is a graduate of the Naval Academy, where he excelled as a varsity athlete. Learn more by visiting johnrmiles.com or passionstruck.com.• Book: Passion Struck: Twelve Powerful Principles to Unlock Your Purpose and Ignite Your Most Intentional Life • Website: JohnRMiles.com • Website: PassionStruck.com • Quiz: Passion Struck Quiz — RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Book: Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems by Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis • Book: Unbeatable Mind: Forge Resiliency and Mental Toughness to Succeed at an Elite Level by Mark Divine • Book: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain • Past episode: 855: Turning Anxiety into Your Source of Strength with Morra Aarons-Mele • Past episode: 327: Unclog Your Brain through Unfocusing with Dr. Srini Pillay — THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Acorns. Start saving and investing for your future today with Acorns.com/awesome• Harvard Business Review. Get 10% off your subscription at HBR.org/subscriptions with the promo code AWESOME• Storyworth. Give the Fathers in your life a unique, heartfelt gift. Save $10 with at StoryWorth.com/Awesome with the promo code AWESOME.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this Encore Episode from Summer 2022, meet Marianne Lewis, Dean of the Carl H. Lindner College of Business and co-author of the breakthrough book from the Harvard Business Review Press, Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems in this Encore Episode from Summer 2022."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?"About MarianneMarianne W. Lewis is dean and professor of management at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati. She previously served as dean of Cass (now Bayes) Business School at City, University of London. A thought leader in organizational paradoxes, she explores tensions surrounding leadership and innovation. Lewis has been recognized among the world's most-cited researchers in her field (Web of Science) and received the Paper of the Year award (2000) and Decade Award (2021) from the Academy of Management Review. Her work also appears in media outlets, such as Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Newsweek. Her latest book Both/And Thinking is published by Harvard Business School Press. Lewis earned her MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, and her PhD from the Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky. About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Canada's top retail industry podcast_,_ The Voice of Retail. He produces and co-hosts Remarkable Retail with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America.

Generative leadership means pushing beyond the status quo and creating something new. It means building environments where new ideas, new confidence, and new leadership can emerge. It needs us to face the realities and complexities of the problems we're here to tackle, and to engage with collective intelligence.For this episode's guest, Loughlin Hickey, effective leadership isn't about intellectual prowess, but about being in service, building relationships, and navigating the tensions between tasks and relationships. By recognising and questioning our own assumptions and being curious about the assumptions of others, we can create a space for collaboration and co-creation, leading to long-term transformation and solutions to the challenges we face.LinksConnect with Laughlin via LinkedInBlueprint for Better BusinessThe Economy of FrancescoThe Ladder of InferenceBoth/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems

In a world of either/or tradeoffs, it sometimes pays to explore the possibility of and/or. By changing our perspective and embracing paradox, we can see possibilities that were obscured by our tendency to see only tradeoffs. Wendy K. Smith is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Business at the University of Delaware and co-founder of the Women's Leadership Initiative. She is also an author, and with Marianne Lewis, their latest book is Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems, about how to navigate the inevitable paradoxes and demands of life and the world. Wendy and Greg discuss Wendy's book and what she has learned about paradoxes and the changes made possible when you replace ‘Either/Or thinking with ‘Both/And' thinking. They discuss this approach and how you can learn from fields as diverse as philosophy, therapy, and improv, as well as Wendy's three conditions of Change, Plurality, and Scarcity. Gregory LaBlanc is a lifelong educator with degrees in History, PPE, Business, and Law, Greg currently teaches at Berkeley, Stanford, and HEC Paris. He has taught in multiple disciplines, from Engineering to Economics, from Biology to Business, from Psychology to Philosophy. He is the host of the unSILOed podcast. unSILOed is produced by University FM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In a world of either/or tradeoffs, it sometimes pays to explore the possibility of and/or. By changing our perspective and embracing paradox, we can see possibilities that were obscured by our tendency to see only tradeoffs. Wendy K. Smith is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Business at the University of Delaware and co-founder of the Women's Leadership Initiative. She is also an author, and with Marianne Lewis, their latest book is Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems, about how to navigate the inevitable paradoxes and demands of life and the world. Wendy and Greg discuss Wendy's book and what she has learned about paradoxes and the changes made possible when you replace ‘Either/Or thinking with ‘Both/And' thinking. They discuss this approach and how you can learn from fields as diverse as philosophy, therapy, and improv, as well as Wendy's three conditions of Change, Plurality, and Scarcity. Gregory LaBlanc is a lifelong educator with degrees in History, PPE, Business, and Law, Greg currently teaches at Berkeley, Stanford, and HEC Paris. He has taught in multiple disciplines, from Engineering to Economics, from Biology to Business, from Psychology to Philosophy. He is the host of the unSILOed podcast. unSILOed is produced by University FM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology

In a world of either/or tradeoffs, it sometimes pays to explore the possibility of and/or. By changing our perspective and embracing paradox, we can see possibilities that were obscured by our tendency to see only tradeoffs. Wendy K. Smith is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Business at the University of Delaware and co-founder of the Women's Leadership Initiative. She is also an author, and with Marianne Lewis, their latest book is Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems, about how to navigate the inevitable paradoxes and demands of life and the world. Wendy and Greg discuss Wendy's book and what she has learned about paradoxes and the changes made possible when you replace ‘Either/Or thinking with ‘Both/And' thinking. They discuss this approach and how you can learn from fields as diverse as philosophy, therapy, and improv, as well as Wendy's three conditions of Change, Plurality, and Scarcity. Gregory LaBlanc is a lifelong educator with degrees in History, PPE, Business, and Law, Greg currently teaches at Berkeley, Stanford, and HEC Paris. He has taught in multiple disciplines, from Engineering to Economics, from Biology to Business, from Psychology to Philosophy. He is the host of the unSILOed podcast. unSILOed is produced by University FM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. ***The Burleson Box is brought to you by Mastry:The Mastry App leverages HypnoBreathwork®, a cutting edge method using breathwork to clear energetic patterns, hypnosis to reprogram subconscious beliefs, and visioning to fire new neural pathways for sustainable behavior change. This unique formula accelerates trance-induced states to heal unprocessed emotions from the root and take intuitive action to get into alignment.Mastry is an experience to create connection and live your purpose. Download the app, try a free 7 day tray and join the mailing list at Mastryapp.com***Resources Mentioned in the Episode with Wendy Smith:Both And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest ProblemsBoth And Thinking Book WebsiteParadox Mindset InventorySmith, W. Dynamic decision making: a model of senior leaders managing strategic paradoxes. Academy of Management Journal 2014, Vol. 57, No.6, 1592-1623.Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take by Paul Polman and Andrew Winston ***Go Premium: Members get early access, ad-free episodes, hand-edited transcripts, exclusive study guides, special edition books each quarter, powerpoint and keynote presentations and two tickets to Dustin Burleson's Annual Leadership Retreat.http://www.theburlesonbox.com/sign-up Stay Up to Date: Sign up for The Burleson Report, our weekly newsletter that is delivered each Sunday with timeless insight for life and private practice. Sign up here:http://www.theburlesonreport.com Follow Dustin Burleson, DDS, MBA at:http://www.burlesonseminars.com

Marianne Smith is an academic who works directly in studying paradoxes and has found life is full of them. In her fathers' work with Harvard MBA students, he shared that the biggest complaint they had from their students was arrogance. She shared what she's found with Drivens using arrogance as a mask and patterns she finds in those who are very Driven. Marianne is the coauthor of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems with Episode 88 guest, Wendy Smith. Their book is available on Amazon.

Life is an incredible journey full of paradoxical demands that can sometimes feel overwhelming. But what if we could embrace both sides of the equation and turn these tensions into opportunities for growth? This is exactly what our guest Marianne Lewis teaches us in the groundbreaking book Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems that she coauthored with her colleague, Wendy Smith. Delving into the risks of either-or thinking and the vicious cycles that can arise, Marianne and cohost, Yael discuss how binary thinking affects our lives. Packed with tools and lessons that will help you see the world with fresh eyes, you'll learn tips on how to reframe questions, embrace paradoxes, as well as navigate complex tensions. If you're interested in exploring new ways of thinking and solving tough problems, this episode is for you!   Listen and Learn:  Why do we have difficulty escaping "either/or" thinking, and what impact does it have? Why is it important to understand and embrace paradoxes in order to move away from binary thinking? Question framing with the word 'how' Negotiating conflict in a constructive way The ways in which identifying a higher purpose can lessen friction between opposing factions A few tips for setting guardrails to help you do your job and all your roles more sustainably The impact of shifting from a scarcity mindset into an abundance mindset Tools for responding to tensions in a positive way Resources:  Learn more about Marianne: https://business.uc.edu/faculty-and-research/departments/management/faculty/marianne-lewis.html Follow Marianne on Twitter @mariannewlewis Order Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems at our bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781647821043 A piece written by Yael that includes a quote from evolutionary psychologist on conflict: https://tricycle.org/article/working-parenthood-conflict/ About Marianne Lewis Marianne W. Lewis is dean and professor of management at the College of Business, University of Cincinnati. She previously served as dean of the Business School at City, University of London. A thought leader in organizational paradoxes, she explores tensions surrounding leadership and innovation. Lewis has been recognized among the world's most-cited researchers in her field and her work has appeared in media outlets, such as Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Newsweek. Her latest book Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems is co-authored with her colleague, Wendy Smith. Related Episodes:  Episode 51. The Psychology of Political Division with Yael and Debbie Episode 234. The Power of Us with Dominic Packer Episode 255. Influence is Your Superpower with Zoe Chance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wendy Smith is a professor at the University of Delaware, as well as the coauthor of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems (available on Amazon). In a conversation that appeals to not only Drivens, but all people balancing their life, Wendy joins Dr. Doug and Meghan to talk through how to draw connections in life instead of having to choose one thing over the next. You can find more content online at bothandthinking.net

Dr. Wendy K. Smith is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and faculty director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware. She earned her Ph.D. in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School. She began her intensive research on strategic paradoxes—how leaders and senior teams effectively respond to contradictory yet interdependent demands. Working with executives and scholars globally, she received the Web of Science Highly Cited Research Award (2019, 2020, and 2021) for being among her field's 1 percent most-cited researchers. She received the Decade Award (2021) from the Academy of Management Review for the most cited paper in the past ten years. Her work has been published in such journals as the Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly, Harvard Business Review, OrganizationScience, and Management Science. She has taught at the University of Delaware, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania–Wharton while helping senior leaders and middle managers worldwide address issues of interpersonal dynamics, team performance, organizational change, and innovation. Wendy lives in Philadelphia with her husband, three children, and the family dog.Connecting with Dr. Wendy SmithTwitter: @profwendysmithFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wendy-Smith-111141458290288 Instagram: @prof.wendysmithA Quote From This Episode"Our mission is to invite people to not see tensions as a bad thing. But rather see tensions as a force of life, where we, as individuals, have the opportunity, have the agency to approach them differently."The Discovering Leadership TextbookDiscovering Leadership: Designing Your Success by Middlebrooks, Allen, McNutt, and MorrisonResources/Authors Mentioned in This EpisodeBook - Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems  by Wendy Smith & Marianne Lewis  Book - Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words by David Whyte Book - Collaborating with the Enemy: How to Work with People You Don't Agree with or Like or Trust  by Adam Kahane Book - A More Just Future: Psychological Tools for Reckoning with Our Past and Driving Social Change by Dolly Chugh Newsletter - Dolly Chugh - Dear Good People About  Scott J. AllenWebsiteMy Approach to HostingThe views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic.About The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in the study, practice, and teaching of leadership. Plan now for ILA's 25th Global Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, on October 12-15, 2023.

In a world of either/or tradeoffs, it sometimes pays to explore the possibility of and/or. By changing our perspective and embracing paradox, we can see possibilities that were obscured by our tendency to see only tradeoffs.Wendy K. Smith is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Business at the University of Delaware and co-founder of the Women's Leadership Initiative. She is also an author, and with Marianne Lewis their latest book is Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems, about how to navigate the inevitable paradoxes and demands of life and the world.Wendy and Greg discuss Wendy's book and what she has learned about paradoxes and the changes made possible when you replace ‘Either/Or thinking with ‘Both/And' thinking. They discuss this approach and how you can learn from fields as diverse as philosophy, therapy, and improv, as well as Wendy's three conditions of Change, Plurality, and Scarcity.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:The power of listening24:24: Listening is a form of respect. It doesn't mean you have to agree. It means you have to engage, or it doesn't mean that you are agreeing. It means that you are respecting somebody, that they have a different point of view than you, and you're engaging and accepting that there is a different point of view out there. And sometimes, listening to hard things that we absolutely don't agree with with curiosity can be a really powerful tool to be able to get to a better point.Adopting a paradox mindset is two things29:40: Adopting a paradox mindset is two things: It's both experiencing the tensions that are out there and applying a both/and approach to those tensions.Navigating the both/and space21:02: In order to effectively navigate in this both/and space, we have to be able to pull apart the opposing tensions and do a deep dive into understanding each one in service of a more profound, thoughtful, creative, and understood holistic synergy.How do we understand the relationship between both/and inherent approach and a socially constructed approach?06:49: There is an inherent nature to our world that is paradoxical, and our understanding of the world, our social construction, our framing, our mindsets, and surfaces, makes that salient to us, which gives us the power or the tools, the possibility to navigate our competing demands in another way.Show Links:Recommended Resources:Faculty Profile for Marya BesharovKelly Leonard with The Second CityThe Nadler-Tushman Congruence Model ExplainedThe Ontology of Organizational Paradox: A Quantum Approach by Tobias Hahn and Eric KnightCharles A. O'ReillyEllen LangerThe Second CityExploration and Exploitation in Organizational Learning by James G. MarchGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at University of DelawareProfessional Profile on Academy of ManagementWendy K. Smith on LinkedInWendy K. Smith on TwitterThe power of paradox: Dr. Wendy K. Smith at TEDxUDHer Work:Wendy K. Smith on Google ScholarBoth/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems

In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Wendy Smith, coauthor of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. I don't think we realize it all that much, but our lives are full of paradoxes. Questions like: How can we each express our individuality and be a team player? How do we balance work and life? How can we take care of ourselves while supporting others? How can we manage the core business while innovating for the future? Believe it or not, these are some of the everyday paradoxes that make up our lives. And because our brains tend to default to either/or choices, we choose one option over the other. We deal with uncertainty by asserting certainty. BUT this is not the best way, as you will learn about in today's conversation with Wendy Smith, a co-author of one of my new favorite books: Both/And Thinking. Wendy is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and earned her Ph.D. in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School, where she began her intensive research on strategic paradoxes—how leaders and senior teams effectively respond to contradictory, yet interdependent demands. She is a wealth of amazing information and I can't wait for you to learn from her today. Show Notes: [00:42] In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Wendy Smith, coauthor of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. [01:46] Wendy is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and faculty director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, at the University of Delaware. [03:57] Wendy shares about herself, her background, and the work she does. She is a professor of organizational behavior and business leadership management.  [06:27] We all experience these tug of wars in our lives.  [09:37] Our decisions really have multiple layers to them. They show up for us as a dilemma - these competing ideas in which you feel like you have to make a decision.  [11:37] Underlying our dilemmas are these paradoxical tensions.  [14:23] It is not that we are constantly trying to choose between always trying to be super disciplined or always trying to be spontaneous. If we go extreme on one side it becomes problematic in so many ways.  [15:36] The goal is to recognize that there is a relationship between discipline and spontaneity and that discipline enables us to be spontaneous as long as we don't go so extreme. Spontaneity enables us to have more structure in our world.  [17:08] These tensions drive us into either/or thinking. That kind of thinking is limited at best and detrimental at worst.  [19:39] Often when change happens you feel like you have to change significantly and essentially you are throwing out the baby with the bath water by innovating everything. [21:44] Polarization is when you go down a path and you are sure that if you are right about the way you are thinking, someone else must be wrong. [24:35] Businesses should continue to be operationally successful as they move up their S curve. Continue to service your existing customers and be efficient with your existing products and at the same time be scanning, exploring, experimenting, and innovating to figure out what the new S curve looks like.  [27:09] The problem isn't the problem. The way we are framing and thinking about the problem is the problem.  [28:10] You have to change to stay the same.  [30:56] Wendy shares a story about a group that built an inn to honor and value what was key to the culture of Newfoundland.  [34:04] To keep what you have, you have to change and we should embrace that.  [35:35] Her number one tip for writing a book is just to sit and do it.  [38:04] Wendy and her co-author worked together to structure the ideas of the book.  [40:38] There is something deeply paradoxical about behavioral economics (and Wendy loves that!)  [43:02] Just changing the question will invite you into a whole different way of thinking.  [44:02] Melina's closing thoughts [45:55] Embracing paradoxes can have a huge impact. There is so much opportunity there.  Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Both/And Thinking, by Wendy Smith & Marianne Lewis The Paradox of Choice, by Barry Schwartz Paradoxes of Group Life, by Kenwyn Smith & David Berg A More Just Future, by Dolly Chugh A More Beautiful Question, by Warren Berger Connect with Wendy:  Wendy's Website Wendy on Twitter Wendy on LinkedIn Top Recommended Next Episode: Framing (ep 16) Already Heard That One? Try These:  A More Just Future, with Dr. Dolly Chugh (ep 247) Paradox of Choice (ep 171) Dunning-Kruger Effect (ep 198) Past, Present, and Future Biase (ep 246) Time Discounting (ep 51) What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You (ep 225) Change Management (ep 226) Confirmation Bias (ep 260) Focusing Illusion (ep 89) Functional Fixedness (ep 194) A More Beautiful Question with Warren Berger (ep 200) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

In this episode Tayler sits down with Dr. Dolly Chugh to discuss her book, A MORE JUST FUTURE. Dr. Dolly Chugh shows us how we can strengthen our resolve when having difficult conversations about racism in this country, and how we can sit with the reality of America's greatness and treachery.   Book Mentioned:  A More Just Future by Dr. Dolly Chugh Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems by Wendy K. Smith and Marianne Lewis   SIGN UP FOR THE FEMINIST BOOK CLUB READATHON HERE   Support our host & guest:   Follow Dolly Chugh: Website // Instagram // Twitter Follow Tayler: Twitter // Instagram // TikTok Beyond the Box: Our weekly round-up of blog and podcast content delivered directly to your inbox every Friday   Check out our online community here!    This episode was edited by Niba and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by @iam.onyxrose   Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.  

Are you stuck in an either/or thinking pattern? Most of us are but the authors of “Both/And Thinking” share with us the extensive research they have done to shift the perspective from either/or to both/and thinking. Marianne Lewis joins us to explain how she and her co-author Wendy Smith began the study of paradoxes and both/and thinking, why it is important to apply in both our personal lives and our professional lives. They share how teams and leaders are impacted in an organization and how you shift the thinking and move people along the journey versus creating a box around them. Both/And thinking opens our eyes to be more creative, and flexible and has more impact on decisions in a world of competing demands.  Life is full of paradoxes. How do we balance work and life? How can we express our individuality and be team players? These competing and interwoven demands are the source of conflict. We deal with uncertainty by asserting certainty according to Lewis and Smith. They help readers cope and thrive with multiple, knotted tensions at the same time.  Join us on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube to listen to the full episode.#both/andthinking #leadership #tensions #wilempowered #womeninleadership

On episode 157, we welcome Marianne Lewis to discuss both/and thinking as opposed to either/or thinking, the inherent paradoxes of our lives and our existential inability to fully transcend them, the false dichotomy of reason vs emotions and how both serve one another, the S-curve and the necessity of fostering other forms of success while still on top, why Lego was able to adapt and thrive and IBM wasn't, creating guardrails to prevent an over-correction to  one option, getting stuck in emotional ruts and how to climb out of them, serendipity and the importance of creating your own luck, and the shared, implicit values underlying many political conflicts. Marianne W. Lewis is dean of the University of Cincinnati's Lindner School of Business and a professor of management. She formerly served as dean at Cass Business School in London. Her work has appeared in major outlets such as the New York Times, CNBC, the Financial Times, and Harvard Business Review. Her new book, co-authored with Wendy Smith, is called Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems.  | Marianne W. Lewis | ► Website | https://bothandthinking.net ► Both/And Thinking Book | https://bothandthinking.net/book ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/mariannewlewis ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083306262641 ► Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-lewis-8214535 Where you can find us: | Seize The Moment Podcast | ► Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeizeTheMoment ► Twitter | https://twitter.com/seize_podcast ► Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/seizethemoment ► TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@seizethemomentpodcast ► Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32208666

Wendy Smith: Both/And Thinking Wendy Smith is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and faculty director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware. She earned her PhD in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School, where she began her intensive research on strategic paradoxes—how leaders and senior teams effectively respond to contradictory, yet interdependent demands. She has received the Web of Science Highly Cited Research Award for being among the 1 percent most-cited researchers in her field and received the Decade Award from the Academy of Management Review for the most cited paper in the past 10 years. Her work has been published in such journals as Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly, Harvard Business Review, Organization Science, and Management Science. She has taught at the University of Delaware, Harvard, and Wharton while helping senior leaders and middle managers all over the world address issues of interpersonal dynamics, team performance, organizational change, and innovation. She is the author with Marianne Lewis of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creating Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. In this episode, Wendy and I discuss the dangers of either/or thinking and how that tendency limits our effectiveness. We explore how to shift to both/and thinking in order to resolve the most challenging problems. Plus, we share key tactics that will help us do this in more practical ways. Key Points Framing a decision as an either/or will often minimize short-term anxiety, but limits creative and innovative long-term possibilities. While easy to see both/and opportunities for others, we're likely to approach things as either/or when it's ourselves. An outside perspective from someone who's not emotionally connected is helpful. Changing the question we are asking is the most powerful to navigate paradoxes. Moving up a level when facing tough decisions can help us see the big picture. Consider shifting from “making a choice” to “choosing” in order to lead us towards better outcomes. Resources Mentioned Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creating Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems* by Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Ask Better Questions, with David Marquet (episode 454) How to Win the Long Game When the Short-Term Seems Bleak, with Dorie Clark (episode 550) The Leadership Struggles We See, with Muriel Wilkins (episode 559) How to Quit Bad Stuff Faster, with Annie Duke (episode 607) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

As we begin a new year, how might we discover rhythms and moments of immersing ourselves in the way of Christ? Weylin Lee opens up about how experience and encounter get us unstuck and in step with God's Radical Love  [John 1:35-42]   Reflection How might we sit in the tension of the paradox of Christ? How can we intentionally make space to listen? What ways can we foster community towards transformation? Resources Book: Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems by Wendy K. Smith and Marianne W. Lewis

Welcome to an episode with an expert on organizational paradoxes, Wendy Smith. Get Wendy's Book here: https://amzn.to/3fF1b8C When faced with a tough decision-making situation, it is common for us to assess and select what we believe is the best deal and then move on. We tend to assume that we need to pick one option and eliminate the other. But what if we could actually succeed in pursuing both options?  In this episode with Wendy Smith, we discuss how leaders and individuals can effectively respond to contradictory yet interdependent demands and have the mindset shift needed to successfully navigate a paradox. Wendy Smith is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and faculty director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware. She earned her PhD in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School, where she began her intensive research on strategic paradoxes—how leaders and senior teams effectively respond to contradictory yet interdependent demands.  Working with executives and scholars globally, she received the Web of Science Highly Cited Research Award (2019, 2020, and 2021) for being among the 1 percent most-cited researchers in her field and received the Decade Award (2021) from the Academy of Management Review for the most cited paper in the past 10 years. Her work has been published in such journals as Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly, Harvard Business Review, Organization Science, and Management Science.  She has taught at the University of Delaware, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania–Wharton while helping senior leaders and middle managers all over the world address issues of interpersonal dynamics, team performance, organizational change, and innovation. Wendy lives in Philadelphia with her husband, three children, and the family dog. Get Wendy's book here: Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. Wendy Smith, Marianne Lewis, Amy C. Edmondson. https://amzn.to/3fF1b8C Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

In The Social Ideas Podcast: the both/and paradox, Professor Wendy Smith draws on over 25 years of research to argue that our typical either/or approaches to tensions can lead be limiting at best and detrimental at worst. She introduces the scholarship on both/and thinking as an alternative approach to enable more creative and sustainable outcomes.Professor Smith is the founder and faculty advisor of the Lerner's Women's Leadership Initiative at the University of Delaware. She is also a Research Fellow with the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation.Wendy is co-author of the book, Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems.Find out more about the Cambridge Centre for Social InnovationApply for the Masters in Social InnovationLerner's Women's Leadership Initiative, University of DelawareFollow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on:FacebookInstagram LinkedInTwitterYouTube

Customer experience professionals face countless balancing acts: do you focus on digital or in-person experiences? Employee experience or customer experience? Build out the contact center or move to self-service options? But perhaps the biggest question is this: Do you focus on long-term strategic vision or short-term customer service? Wendy Smith, author of BOTH/AND THINKING: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems, says the answer is in changing from an either/or approach to a both/and way of thinking. Instead of feeling you have to choose just one solution, you can embrace the creative tension of both ideas. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of the bestselling book The Customer Of The Future. 

Today I talk to Wendy K. Smith, a professor of management and faculty director at the Women's Leadership Initiative at the University of Delaware, and Marianne W. Lewis, the dean of Carl H. Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati, about the power of using both/and thinking to solve your biggest problems. Go here to purchase their book Both/And Thinking: https://amzn.to/3Ff0flx. What We Discuss with Marianne W. Lewis and Wendy K. Smith About Both/and Thinking Both/and thinking is a versatile thinking style that helps you look at problems from multiple perspectives and find sustainable and creative solutions. By learning to use both/and thinking, you'll be able to think outside the box and solve problems in unique and innovative ways! Likewise, the mechanisms for navigating paradoxes are paradoxical. We need tools that can be adopted on an individual level. Marianne and Wendy show us how to change our mindsets to embrace both/and thinking and shift sentiments to find comfort with the discomfort of paradoxes. Full show notes and resources can be found here: https://passionstruck.com/marianne-lewis-and-wendy-smith-both-and-thinking/  Brought to you by BiOptimizers and American Giant. --► For information about advertisers and promo codes, go to: https://passionstruck.com/deals/  --► Prefer to watch this interview: https://youtu.be/VvtLYHC8wfw  Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! --► Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnRMiles Want to find your purpose in life? I provide my six simple steps to achieving it - passionstruck.com/5-simple-steps-to-find-your-passion-in-life/ Did you hear my interview with Robin Sharma, one of the top personal mastery and leadership coaches in the world and a multiple-time number-one New York Times best-selling author? Catch up with episode 209: Robin Sharma on Why Changing the World Starts by Changing Ourselves ===== FOLLOW ON THE SOCIALS ===== * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passion_struck_podcast * Gear: https://www.zazzle.com/store/passion_sruck_podcast Learn more about John: https://johnrmiles.com/ 

As a leader, you might find it overwhelming to have too many voices chiming in with their opinions on an important decision. You're in charge so you should be able to decide for yourself, right? Well, it turns out that there are good reasons to encourage your employees and stakeholders to actively and equitably participate in the brainstorming process. In this episode, Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller talk through the Nominal Group Technique for generating the ideas you need to push your organization forward. Also, Joel Miller speaks with Wendy Smith, co-author of the book Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. She talks about how the paradox of "either/or" keeps leaders thinking small.For more detailed exploration of Nominal Group Technique (NGT), visit https://chess.wisc.edu/niatx/content/contentpage.aspx?NID=147.For more information about Wendy Smith's book, visit https://bothandthinking.net/.For more podcasts, visit www.businessacclerator.com/podcast.The Business Accelerator podcast is a reflection of values the BusinessAccelerator coaching program. If you want a free Business Growth Coaching Call, visit www.businessaccelerator.com/coach.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a leader, you might find it overwhelming to have too many voices chiming in with their opinions on an important decision. You're in charge so you should be able to decide for yourself, right? Well, it turns out that there are good reasons to encourage your employees and stakeholders to actively and equitably participate in the brainstorming process. In this episode, Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller talk through the Nominal Group Technique for generating the ideas you need to push your organization forward. Also, Joel Miller speaks with Wendy Smith, co-author of the book Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. She talks about how the paradox of "either/or" keeps leaders thinking small.For more detailed exploration of Nominal Group Technique (NGT), visit https://chess.wisc.edu/niatx/content/contentpage.aspx?NID=147.For more information about Wendy Smith's book, visit https://bothandthinking.net/.For more podcasts, visit www.businessacclerator.com/podcast.The Business Accelerator podcast is a reflection of values the BusinessAccelerator coaching program. If you want a free Business Growth Coaching Call, visit www.businessaccelerator.com/coach.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

My guest today is Marianne W. Lewis, a dean and professor of Management at the Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati. She previously served as dean of Cass (now Bayes) Business School at City, University of London, and as a Fulbright scholar. A thought leader in organizational paradoxes, she explores tensions and competing demands surrounding leadership and innovation. The topic is her book Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. In this episode of Trend Following Radio we discuss: Racial issues in America The value of diversity Meritocracy vs. diversity The Paradox of rising expectations Current student generation Political polarization Cultural differences between people who are paradoxical thinkers The beauty of the Asian yin yang approach Jump in! --- I'm MICHAEL COVEL, the host of TREND FOLLOWING RADIO, and I'm proud to have delivered 10+ million podcast listens since 2012. Investments, economics, psychology, politics, decision-making, human behavior, entrepreneurship and trend following are all passionately explored and debated on my show. To start? I'd like to give you a great piece of advice you can use in your life and trading journey… cut your losses! You will find much more about that philosophy here: https://www.trendfollowing.com/trend/ You can watch a free video here: https://www.trendfollowing.com/video/ Can't get enough of this episode? You can choose from my thousand plus episodes here: https://www.trendfollowing.com/podcast My social media platforms: Twitter: @covel Facebook: @trendfollowing LinkedIn: @covel Instagram: @mikecovel Hope you enjoy my never-ending podcast conversation!

My guest today is Marianne W. Lewis, a dean and professor of Management at the Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati. She previously served as dean of Cass (now Bayes) Business School at City, University of London, and as a Fulbright scholar. A thought leader in organizational paradoxes, she explores tensions and competing demands surrounding leadership and innovation. The topic is her book Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. In this episode of Trend Following Radio we discuss: Racial issues in America The value of diversity Meritocracy vs. diversity The Paradox of rising expectations Current student generation Political polarization Cultural differences between people who are paradoxical thinkers The beauty of the Asian yin yang approach Jump in! --- I'm MICHAEL COVEL, the host of TREND FOLLOWING RADIO, and I'm proud to have delivered 10+ million podcast listens since 2012. Investments, economics, psychology, politics, decision-making, human behavior, entrepreneurship and trend following are all passionately explored and debated on my show. To start? I'd like to give you a great piece of advice you can use in your life and trading journey… cut your losses! You will find much more about that philosophy here: https://www.trendfollowing.com/trend/ You can watch a free video here: https://www.trendfollowing.com/video/ Can't get enough of this episode? You can choose from my thousand plus episodes here: https://www.trendfollowing.com/podcast My social media platforms: Twitter: @covel Facebook: @trendfollowing LinkedIn: @covel Instagram: @mikecovel Hope you enjoy my never-ending podcast conversation!

In this episode I speak with Marianne Lewis PhD, Dean and professor at the Carl Lindner College of Business, University of Cinncinnati and co-author, "Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems," whose through like and purpose/calling has been to see the value in tension and the power of paradoxes to solve many problems. https://business.uc.edu/faculty-and-research/departments/management/faculty/marianne-lewis.html

In this episode of WiseTalk, CEO and Executive Leadership Coach Sue Bethanis hosts Marianne Lewis, co-author of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. Marianne's research and vast experience shows that embracing both/and thinking, or paradox thinking, results in more creative, lasting solutions and more satisfied people. Marianne is the dean and professor of management at the Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati. Sue and Marianne discuss how the paradox mindset can: help leaders surface, embrace, and process tensions to generate more innovative solutions from their teams reduce their own stress, and lead to more personal creativity and satisfaction improve personal relationships where there are significant differences of opinion in arenas such as politics

I continue the discussion brought forth by Wendy Smith and the message in her book with Marianne Lewis, "Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems.” Here I bring in my frequent co-host, Randy James, medical doctor and functional medicine expert to further unwrap this concept. Randy and I have been best friends for over a decade and as we grapple, ponder, and consider life as business owners, spouses, parents, friends, and followers of God we so often come to, as Randy says, “the bother.” The issues are so seldom black and white or right or wrong, so here we take the concept head on and talk about how it plays out in our own lives in all those roles. You'll hear us talk about how being flexible and considerate of seemingly opposing sides runs the risk of setting double standards, if not coming off outright hypocritical. And it often leads us with just what Wendy and Marianne uncovered, a true dilemma instead of an easy answer. Instead of conclusive beliefs to paint over our lives we have to be present in the moment and what is at stake in any particular circumstance. And ultimately the issue calls us to get very clear on our overall values, while being, again, flexible, in how we may achieve them. Self-Help(ful) is presented by Ziglar, the most trusted brand in personal and business development impacting over 250 million people worldwide. Visit Ziglar.com to see how they can inspire your true performance. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 283, an episode with an expert on organizational paradoxes, Wendy Smith. Get Wendy's Book here: https://amzn.to/3fF1b8C   When faced with a tough decision-making situation, it is common for us to assess and select what we believe is the best deal and then move on. We tend to assume that we need to pick one option and eliminate the other. But what if we could actually succeed in pursuing both options?    In this episode with Wendy Smith, we discuss how leaders and individuals can effectively respond to contradictory yet interdependent demands and have the mindset shift needed to successfully navigate a paradox.   Wendy Smith is the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and faculty director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware. She earned her PhD in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School, where she began her intensive research on strategic paradoxes—how leaders and senior teams effectively respond to contradictory yet interdependent demands.    Working with executives and scholars globally, she received the Web of Science Highly Cited Research Award (2019, 2020, and 2021) for being among the 1 percent most-cited researchers in her field and received the Decade Award (2021) from the Academy of Management Review for the most cited paper in the past 10 years. Her work has been published in such journals as Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly, Harvard Business Review, Organization Science, and Management Science.    She has taught at the University of Delaware, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania–Wharton while helping senior leaders and middle managers all over the world address issues of interpersonal dynamics, team performance, organizational change, and innovation.   Wendy lives in Philadelphia with her husband, three children, and the family dog.   Get Wendy's book here: Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. Wendy Smith, Marianne Lewis, Amy C. Edmondson. https://amzn.to/3fF1b8C   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

In this episode, Caleb talks with Marianne Lewis about her book, Both/And Thinking and more.Links MentionedMarianne LewisBoth/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems by Marianne LewisCaleb's Newsletter

I'm back with Wendy K Smith, expert on organizational paradoxes and co-author of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems, and we are walking through her personal values, motives, and habits in the key areas of life fulfillment so we can hear what has driven and does drive her to help us avoid the pitfalls and anxiety of either/or thinking, and what she does to design a life that fulfills her. Which of course includes holding the tensions of…both/and thinking. Some highlights…she shares her Jewish upbringing and rabbis who advocated ongoing conversations where Wendy cites, they rarely came up with conclusive answers. Which of course is highly relatable to her topic of holding the tensions of paradox where it's just not black and white, right and wrong. She discusses the obvious tensions most of us have with work and family. Her health and wellness goals center around what will help her, “Show up in the world in the most productive way.” For her career, a perspective she strives for is, “It's not about making the right decision, but about making the decision right.” And even though she's just had her book come out and is a more than ever sought after speaker, she cites a favorite achievement as of late, witnessing the emotional intelligence and empathy from her 10 year old child. That and more is coming up. Again, you can get Wendy K Smith and Marriane W Lewis' book, Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems at Amazon or anywhere.  Self-Help(ful) is presented by Ziglar, the most trusted brand in personal and business development impacting over 250 million people worldwide. Visit Ziglar.com to see how they can inspire your true performance. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Wendy Smith received her Ph.D. from Harvard Business School and is now a Professor of Leadership at the University of Delaware's Lerner College of Business and Economics, as well as the co-founder of the Women's Leadership Initiative. She is interested in how leaders and organizations deal with continuing strategic contradictions such as those between today and tomorrow, global integration and local adaptation, social mission, and financial performance. What are Wendy's thoughts on “either/or” and “both/and” thinking? What does it mean for leaders to embrace paradoxes? Listen in as Wendy, and I discuss attitude shifts, leadership insights, and why paradoxes exist to help leaders be better leaders! --------------------- This episode is sponsored by Workplace from Meta. Workplace is a business communication tool from Meta. Think Facebook, but for your company. It's part of Meta's vision for the future of work. A future in which we'll all feel more present, connected and productive. Start your journey into the future of work at workplace.com/future. ------------------ Get ad-free listening, early access to new episodes and bonus episodes with the subscription version of the show The Future of Work Plus. To start it will only be available on Apple Podcasts and it will cost $4.99/month or $49.99/year, which is the equivalent to the cost of a cup of coffee.  ________________ Over the last 15 years, I've had the privilege of speaking and working with some of the world's top leaders. Here are 15 of the best leadership lessons that I learned from the CEOs of organizations like Netflix, Honeywell, Volvo, Best Buy, The Home Depot, and others. I hope they inspire you and give you things you can try in your work and life. Get the PDF here. --------------------- Get the latest insights on the Future of Work, Leadership and employee experience through my daily newsletter at futureofworknewsletter.com  Let's connect on social! Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmorgan8 Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacobmorgan8 Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jacobm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FuturistJacob

Andrew Lane, Energy Resources and Industrials Leader at Deloitte Africa discuses the surprise by Mineral resources and Energy minister at the Oil Week conference   Hilary Joffe,  Columnist and editor-at-large at Business Day  discusses how the energy crisis and climate change is changing SA's stance on borrowing money from international financial institutions   Peter Worthington, Senior Economist at Absa  explained why the country's fixed investment landscape continues to dwindle     Business Book feature - Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems by Marianne W. Lewis and Wendy Smith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest: Ian Mann | Regular Book Reviewer and MD at Gateways Business ConsultantsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We can better solve tough problems and make decisions we feel confident about, by not taking an either-or, black and white, or right and wrong approach to them. We are in a culture and media that is radically doing just that. And yet most truths and daily decisions we must make are not a result of right or wrong issues that we will live or die from, but rather, choices we make where one may prove more beneficial than another. When we hold things as right/wrong, good/bad, and either or we cause ourselves undo anxiety. And further, we are pressured to make one sided decisions without the wisdom we'd benefit from if we didn't view different perspectives as opposing forces. This show is meant to equip you to make smarter decisions, and with less anxiety and more confidence. With me is Wendy K. Smith, a Harvard educated, award-winning academic and the Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and faculty director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at University of Delaware. She is an expert on organizational paradoxes, exploring how leaders and individuals effectively respond to contradictory, yet interdependent demands. She spends her time continually working to better manage the paradoxes of life that we all face. Wendy's research focuses on strategic paradoxes – how leaders and senior teams effectively respond to contradictory agendas. Not with us, but a co-author of their new book,"Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems" is Marianne W. Lewis who is dean and professor of management at the Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati. Marianne too is  thought leader in organizational paradoxes exploring tensions and competing demands surrounding leadership and innovation. Again, the book containing the message in the following discussion is Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems which you can find at Amazon or anywhere. Self-Help(ful) is presented by Ziglar, the most trusted brand in personal and business development impacting over 250 million people worldwide. Visit Ziglar.com to see how they can inspire your true performance. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kelly sits down with Wendy Smith , the Academic Director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the University of Delaware where she is also a Professor of Management, to talk about a new book she co-wrote with Marianne Lewis,  “Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems.”  “The greatest trigger for organizational failure is success.”  […]

Welcome to The Voice of Retail. I'm your host Michael LeBlanc. This podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.Meet Marianne Lewis, co-author of the breakthrough new book from the Harvard Business Review Press, Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest ProblemsThanks for tuning into this special episode of The Voice of Retail.  If you haven't already, be sure and click subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so new episodes will land automatically twice a week, and check out my other retail industry media properties; the Remarkable Retail podcast, the Conversations with CommerceNext podcast, and the Food Professor podcast.  Last but not least, if you are into BBQ, check out my all new YouTube barbecue show, Last Request Barbeque, with new episodes each and every week!I'm your host Michael LeBlanc, President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company & Maven Media, and if you're looking for more content, or want to chat  follow me on LinkedIn, or visit my website meleblanc.co!  Have a safe week everyone! About Marianne Marianne W. Lewis, PhD, is dean and professor of management at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business University of Cincinnati. Previously, she has served as dean of the Cass Business School, City, University of London and as a UK Fulbright. A thought leader in organizational paradoxes, she is among the world's top 1% most-cited researchers in her field (Web of Science). Her research explores tensions and competing demands surrounding leadership and innovation. She applies her paradox lens across such diverse contexts as product development, organizational change, governance and technology implementation. Lewis has earned numerous teaching and research awards throughout her academic career. Her work appears in such journals as the Harvard Business Review, Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science, and Journal of Operations Management. Lewis earned her MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and PhD from the Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated on thought leadership panels worldwide.  Michael was recently added to ReThink Retail's prestigious Top 100 Global Retail Influencers for a second year in  2022. Michael is also the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts, including Canada's top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus the Remarkable Retail with author Steve Dennis, Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.  Most recently, Michael launched Conversations with CommerceNext, a podcast focussed on retail eCommerce, digital marketing and retail careers - all available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music and all major podcast platforms.   Michael is also the producer and host of the “Last Request Barbeque” channel on YouTube where he cooks meals to die for and influencer riches.

In this episode I speak with Wendy Smith, co-author of "BOTH/AND THINKING: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems" and Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management and faculty director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware whose through line and wakeup call was growing up in Montreal when there was so much political strife and seeing that as an opportunity to bring people together. https://lerner.udel.edu/faculty-staff-directory/wendy-smith/

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Wendy Smith, author of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. Wendy K. Smith is the Emma Smith Morris Professor of Management and academic director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the University of Delaware's Lerner College of Business & Economics. Her work has won multiple academic awards and been featured in outlets such as Harvard Business Review, Academy of Management Journal, and Organization Science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Making business decisions often means choosing one path over another. And psychology research shows that our brains are wired to make either-or choices. But Wendy Smith, management professor at the University of Delaware, and Marianne Lewis, dean of the University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business, argue for moving beyond tradeoffs. The researchers teach leaders how to embrace ambiguity and paradox to come up with solutions that are far better than one choice or the other. And they share practical advice as well as stories of people who have discovered opportunities for innovation and personal growth. Smith and Lewis wrote the new book "Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems."

In This Episode You Will Learn About:  The benefits of “Both/And Thinking”  Learning about & accepting your WHOLE self  Finding comfort in discomfort  Resources: Websites: lerner.udel & business.uc.edu  Read Both/And Thinking  Email: Marianne.Lewis@uc.edu & smithw@udel.edu  LinkedIn: @Marianne Lewis & @Wendy K. Smith  Twitter: @profwendysmith & @MarianneWLewis Overcome Your Villains is Available NOW! Order here: https://overcomeyourvillains.com  If you haven't yet, get my first book Confidence Creator Show Notes:  When was the last time you shifted your mindset? It may not feel comfortable, but start expanding the possibilities in your own life and step into the unknown! By putting yourself out there and exploring uncomfortable situations that force you to GROW, you will start to see new possibilities unfold in front of you. Professors and Authors, Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis, are here to inspire us to incorporate Both/And thinking into our lifestyles. By seeing opposing forces as interdependent, we can find strength in EVERYTHING we do! So show up for yourself and embrace your FULL identity today!  About The Guest: I have TWO amazing guests joining me today! Wendy Smith, the Academic Director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at The University of Delaware and Professor of Management, and Marianne Lewis, the Dean of Cincinatt's Lindner School of Business and Professor of Management as well. Wendy and Marianne are the Co-Authors of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems, and they're here to help us open our eyes and BREAKDOWN the cycles of opposition.   If You Liked This Episode You Might Also Like These Episodes: Stop Sabotaging! Find Out How to Have the Life you DESERVE With Dr. Josh Wagner  How to DECODE The Secret Strategy to Achieving Greatness with Ron Friedman  What To Do When The People In Your Circle AREN'T In Your Corner with Heather!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life is full of paradoxes. How can we express our individuality and be a team player? Balance work and life? Take care of ourselves while supporting others? 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. Yet, there's a better way through "both/and" thinking. Stacy Sherman and Professor Wendy Smith discuss how to cope, and thrive with 'multiple knotted tensions happening at the same time' for greater success in business and life More @ DoingCXRight.com 

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Marianne Lewis, co-author of Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems. Marianne W. Lewis is dean of the University of Cincinnati's Lindner School of Business and a professor of management. She formerly served as dean at Cass Business School in London. Her work has appeared in major outlets such as the New York Times, CNBC, the Financial Times, and Harvard Business Review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Curt Friedel is the Director, at the Center for Cooperative Problem Solving at Virginia Tech. We discuss adaptation and innovation in people, in business and in teams. We explore the implications of people who operate at each end of the spectrum, and the power of having a team who can offer both qualities. We use my profile as a baseline to explain the implications of being a strong innovator (139/160!!) and why I got into so much trouble throughout my career. Curt can be contacted via linkedin.com/in/curtfriedel Websites alce.vt.edu/people/faculty-staff/friedel/friedel-bio.html  (Personal Website) alce.vt.edu/signature-programs/problem-solving/problem-solving.html  (Company Website) aggregate.info  (RSS Feed) -- If you found this helpful then please think of at least one person who would benefit from listening and share it with them directly   --   To contact me email marcus@laughs-last.com and if you know someone, perhaps you, who would make an interesting guest for #TheInquisitorPodcast, please connect us via LinkedIn or over email

Stop Solving the Wrong Problem! In this episode we discuss Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg's book What's Your Problem?: To Solve Your Toughest Problems, Change the Problems You Solve (HBR Press, 2020) and focus on hisRapid Reframing Method for solving in particular people-related problems. Specific topics include: how emotions can either facilitate or hinder the challenging of established mental models, how reframing fits the top 3 skills of importance for the future economy, and why “vagueness” is the enemy of change. Wedell-Wedellsborg is a globally recognized expert on innovation and problem solving whose clients have included The United Nations. His research has been widely featured in the media and he's been named a “Top 20 International Thinker” by HR Magazine. Dan Hill, PhD, is the author of eight books and leads Sensory Logic, Inc. (https://www.sensorylogic.com). To check out his related “Dan Hill's EQ Spotlight” blog, visit https://emotionswizard.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stop Solving the Wrong Problem! In this episode we discuss Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg's book What's Your Problem?: To Solve Your Toughest Problems, Change the Problems You Solve (HBR Press, 2020) and focus on hisRapid Reframing Method for solving in particular people-related problems. Specific topics include: how emotions can either facilitate or hinder the challenging of established mental models, how reframing fits the top 3 skills of importance for the future economy, and why “vagueness” is the enemy of change. Wedell-Wedellsborg is a globally recognized expert on innovation and problem solving whose clients have included The United Nations. His research has been widely featured in the media and he's been named a “Top 20 International Thinker” by HR Magazine. Dan Hill, PhD, is the author of eight books and leads Sensory Logic, Inc. (https://www.sensorylogic.com). To check out his related “Dan Hill's EQ Spotlight” blog, visit https://emotionswizard.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology