The Opposable Mind

Roger Martin

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If you want to be as successful as Jack Welch, Larry Bossidy, or Michael Dell, read their autobiographical advice books, right? Wrong, says Roger Martin in "The Opposable Mind". Though following 'best practice' can help in some ways, it also poses a danger: by emulating what a great leader did in a particular situation, you'll likely be terribly disappointed with your own results. Why? Your situation is different. Instead of focusing on what exceptional leaders do, we need to understand and emulate how they think.

Successful businesspeople engage in what Martin calls integrative thinking creatively resolving the tension in opposing models by forming entirely new and superior ones. Drawing on stories of leaders as diverse as AG Lafley of Procter & Gamble, Meg Whitman of eBay, Victoria Hale of the Institute for One World Health, and Nandan Nilekani of Infosys, Martin shows how integrative thinkers are relentlessly diagnosing and synthesizing by asking probing questions including: what are the causal relationships at work here? And what are the implied trade-offs?

What will you learn from this book

 

  1. Integrative Thinking: The book emphasizes the concept of integrative thinking, which involves synthesizing opposing or conflicting ideas to create innovative solutions that transcend traditional trade-offs.

  2. Dilemma-Driven Decision Making: It might highlight the importance of recognizing and embracing dilemmas as opportunities for creative thinking and problem-solving.

  3. Creative Problem-Solving: Insights into techniques and approaches to navigate complex problems by exploring multiple perspectives and considering diverse viewpoints.

  4. Balancing Contradictory Ideas: The book likely explores how successful leaders hold opposing ideas in tension and use that tension as a source of creativity rather than seeking compromises.

  5. Case Studies and Examples: It might offer real-world examples or case studies of leaders who have applied integrative thinking to solve complex problems or drive innovation.

  6. Personal Development: The book may discuss how individuals can develop their integrative thinking skills through practice, reflection, and embracing ambiguity.

  7. Leadership and Strategy: Insights into how integrative thinking can shape leadership styles and strategic decision-making in various fields and industries.

  8. Learning from Failures: The importance of learning from failures and setbacks as part of the integrative thinking process to refine ideas and solutions.

  9. Innovation and Growth: How integrative thinking can foster innovation and drive organizational growth by challenging conventional approaches.

  10. Continuous Improvement: The book might emphasize the idea of ongoing learning and improvement in integrative thinking, as it's a skill that can be honed over time.

Language English
ISBN-10 1422139778
ISBN-13 9781422139776
No of pages 210
Font Size Medium
Book Publisher harvard business publishing
Published Date 13 Jul 2009

About Author

Author : Roger Martin

5 Books

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