About Polarity

Polarity is a new concept in the business world, where the focus is on leadership.  It was developed up by Peter Koestenbaum, Ph.D. at PIB.  While the original concept focuses on the business world, it can have applications everywhere, especially for GLBT people.  This denies the validity of solving our complex problems simply by constantly hammering away at them with linear tasks.   When polarity is not managed, if there are winners, there are also losers.  Also, winners often end up being losers.

Situations containing polarity cannot be solved by usual methods of problem solving, they must be managed.  Polarity describes dynamic ongoing tension between interdependent, opposing imperatives. The dynamic tension of polarity never goes away because the opposing, imperative poles are inherently interdependent,  they depend upon each other to function well over time. 

Characteristics Of Problems To Solve: Difficulties are not ongoing There is an end point They are solvable Problem language is either/or Characteristics Of Polarities To Hold: Difficulties are ongoing There is no end point They are unsolvable Polarity language is both/and

Here is the Leadership Polarity Diamond, which was developed up by Peter Koestenbaum:

This concept can be expanded to more situations and greater complexity.  Of course, it is far easier to visualize a two-dimensional dynamic than a multi-dimensional one.  One would have to imagine a large polygon whose facets are polarity diamonds interlinked in very complex relationships.  Polarity should also help deal with the biggest social issue of our time, the nature of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) people.

Though the wrong choice seems to be made to solve world problems, this is not a polarity..	Coupled with a war-mentality, this leads to terrorism.  This may not be a polarity.

Here are some other possible polarity diamonds:

This may not quite be a polarity is a feature of American culture. It is one of the causes for all the suffering endured by GLBT people.	This polarity describes the modern world. There is resistance to change and a lack of knowledge how to handle all the change.
This is a common dynamic in modern society. It especially impacts GLBT people.	Our society is a society of secrets.  Yet, no GLBT person survive with their secret.
This dynamic affects the majority of people, but the failure rate is more than 50%.	This is the first attempt to define a polarity dynamic for transgendered people.
This is the second attempt to define a polarity dynamic for transgendered people.	This is the third attempt to define a polarity dynamic for transgendered people.