New Books Network Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis, "Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems" (Harvard Business Review Press, 2022)
Dec 5, 2025
Wendy K. Smith, a management professor and co-author of "Both/And Thinking," explores how to embrace paradoxes in life and work. She discusses the importance of holding creative tensions rather than defaulting to either/or thinking, highlighting real-world examples from IBM, LEGO, and Unilever. Wendy shares practical strategies like 'tightrope walking' and 'portfolio thinking' for balancing innovation with current operations. She even touches on how AI might enhance our ability to navigate these complexities, providing tools to transform tensions into opportunities.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Paradox Overrules Simple Tradeoffs
- Paradox theory reframes dilemmas as enduring tensions that can be held simultaneously rather than binary trade-offs.
- Wendy Smith argues holding opposing demands (e.g., explore vs. exploit) enables more creative, long-term organizational decisions.
Use A Superordinate Goal And Tightrope Walk
- Commit to a long-term superordinate goal that legitimizes holding opposing priorities over time.
- Differentiate resources for current operations and new innovations, then use dynamic micro-adjustments to rebalance.
Separate To Find Integration Points
- Separate and clarify what each side of a tension requires before seeking integration points.
- Design distinct roles, budgets, and processes for competing priorities to reveal where synergies are possible.
