The Power of Paradox: Harness the Energy of Competing Ideas to Uncover Radically Innovative Solutions

by Deborah Schroeder-Saulnier

Overview

We're so often faced with apparent paradoxes: continuity and change, conservatism and progressiveness, predictability and chaos. In business, inherent tensions are mistakenly viewed as problems to be resolved once the "correct" answer is found. But when we consider only one direction—either A or B—we only see part of the picture. The strongest and most innovative solutions are frequently realized not through either/or decisionmaking, but by pursuing two contrasting options at the same time.

Taking readers through the same steps she's used to help Fortune 500 companies such as Scottrade, Georgia-Pacific, and Boeing, Deborah Schroeder-Saulnier reveals a dynamic critical-thinking process anyone can use to define the strategic tensions within his or her organization, identify the potential of seemingly conflicting options, and develop action steps to maximize the benefits of each.

Complete with examples of companies that achieved a competitive advantage with this breakthrough strategy, The Power of Paradox will help you face chronic challenges with confidence and uncover unexpected and infinitely better solutions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781601633132
Publisher:	Red Wheel/Weiser
Publication date:	03/24/2014
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Deborah Schroeder-Saulnier, president and CEO at Excel Leadership Solutions and a former partner at the Clarion Group, is a results-driven executive with a PhD in management. She has devoted her career of more than 24 years to partnering with CEOs and top leaders to clarify focus and accelerate the pursuit of critical market, business, and leadership priorities. Her work with a variety of Fortune 500 companies has been centered on collaborative and integrative approaches that solve problems. She is based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Table of Contents

Author's Notes How Paradox Thinking Is Natural and Learned 13

Introduction 17

Part I The Process: Unleashing the Power of Paradox

Chapter 1 Paradox Thinking: What Is it and Why Use It? 23

Chapter 2 The ABCs of Using Paradox Thinking 43

Chapter 3 Identifying Paradoxes in Any Organization 73

Chapter 4 The Importance of Leaders at All Levels 99

Part II Implementing the Process

Chapter 5 Building the Model 123

Chapter 6 Developing Action Steps 139

Chapter 7 Identifying and Using Metrics to Stay on Target 161

Chapter 8 Respecting Context and Complexity 179

Part III Results of Implementing the Process

Chapter 9 Going Operational 199

Chapter 10 Success (and Failure) Stories 213

Conclusion 233

Appendix How-to Summary 239

Chapter Notes 243

Index 249

About the Author 255

Editorial Reviews

"The Power of Paradox insightfully guides one on navigating through a world where black and white solutions rarely exist."

Ward Klein

"The Power of Paradox will challenge you to think more critically than you normally do...which will ultimately improve your business."

Jim Kavanaugh

"Deborah Schroeder-Saulnier will give you the right advice to make your business flourish. You will get all the information you need in The Power of Paradox."

Lori Jacob

"The Power of Paradox insightfully guides one on navigating through a world where black and white solutions rarely exist."
--Ward Klein, CEO, Energizer Holdings, Inc.

"The Power of Paradox will challenge you to think more critically than you normally do...which will ultimately improve your business."
--Jim Kavanaugh, CEO, World Wide Technology, Inc. (WWT)

"Deborah Schroeder-Saulnier will give you the right advice to make your business flourish. You will get all the information you need in The Power of Paradox."
--Lori Jacob, president and CEO, Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis, Inc.

Should your company pursue global expansion or mine local opportunities?
Take risks to grow dramatically or protect your current stability?
Seek to maximize sales or the bottom line?

Reviews

"The Power of Paradox insightfully guides one on navigating through a world where black and white solutions rarely exist."
--Ward Klein, CEO, Energizer Holdings, Inc.

"The Power of Paradox will challenge you to think more critically than you normally do...which will ultimately improve your business."
--Jim Kavanaugh, CEO, World Wide Technology, Inc. (WWT)

"Deborah Schroeder-Saulnier will give you the right advice to make your business flourish. You will get all the information you need in The Power of Paradox."
--Lori Jacob, president and CEO, Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis, Inc.

Should your company pursue global expansion or mine local opportunities?
Take risks to grow dramatically or protect your current stability?
Seek to maximize sales or the bottom line?

From the Publisher