Published Oct 17, 2022

Thriving in the Face of Contradiction

Wendy Smith delves into the power of paradoxical thinking in leadership, using vivid case studies like Polaroid and Lego to illustrate how companies can navigate innovation by shunning binary thinking. This episode provides invaluable insights into overcoming cognitive biases and adopting strategies that embrace contradictions to foster creativity and thrive in evolving markets.

Episode Highlights

Topics covered

Episode Highlights

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Dexa/Shankar Vedantam

Thriving in the Face of Contradiction

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Lego's Reinvention Journey

Wrecking Ball Decisions

Instant Success

Polaroid's Digital Dilemma

Embracing Complexity

Embracing Paradox

Acts of Kindness

Balancing Choices

Tightrope Walking

Embracing Paradox

Embracing Paradoxes

Journey Through Despair

Balcony Perspective

Deception and Bias

Episode Highlights

Case Studies

Leadership Strategies

Cognitive Biases

Paradoxical Thinking

Related Episodes

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Success 2.0: Taking the Leap

Wellness 2.0: Rising to the Occasion

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Beyond Doomscrolling

Happiness 2.0: The Path to Contentment

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Both Things Can Be True

Where Happiness Hides

Sitting With Uncertainty

Who Do You Want To Be?

The Benefits of Mixed Emotions

Thriving in the Face of Contradiction

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Episode Highlights

Case StudiesWendy Smith explores how companies like Polaroid and Lego navigated the challenges of innovation and adaptation. She highlights the dangers of binary thinking and the benefits of embracing paradox to thrive in changing markets.

Case Studies

Leadership StrategiesWendy Smith explores strategies for navigating complex decisions by embracing paradoxes. She introduces concepts like the "Balcony Perspective" and "tightrope walking" to help leaders balance competing demands and innovate effectively.

Leadership Strategies

Cognitive BiasesWendy Smith explores the impact of confirmation bias and escalation of commitment on decision-making. She highlights how these cognitive biases can trap individuals in cycles of binary thinking, leading to entrenched positions and ineffective solutions.

Cognitive Biases

Paradoxical ThinkingWendy Smith explores the concept of paradoxes, highlighting their role in fostering creative solutions and new perspectives. By embracing these contradictions, we can unlock unexpected possibilities and enhance our understanding of complex issues.

Paradoxical Thinking

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