Both/And Thinking - by Wendy Smith & Marianne Lewis (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Life is full of paradoxes. How can we each express our individuality and be a team player? How do we balance work and life? How can we take care of ourselves while supporting others? How can we manage the core business while innovating for the future? For many of us, these competing and interwoven demands are a source of conflict. Since our brains love to make either-or choices, we choose one option over the other. We deal with the uncertainty by asserting certainty. There's a better way. In Both/And Thinking, Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis help readers cope and thrive with multiple, knotted tensions at the same time. Drawing from more than twenty years of pioneering research, they provide an actionable framework for transforming these tensions into opportunities for innovation and personal growth. Filled with practical advice, groundbreaking research, and fascinating stories, Both/And Thinking will completely change the way you approach your most vexing problems."--

Book Synopsis

An insightful and inspiring book on using "both/and" thinking to make more creative, flexible, and impactful decisions in a world of competing demands.

Life is full of paradoxes. How can we each express our individuality while also being a team player? How do we balance work and life? How can we improve diversity while promoting opportunities for all? How can we manage the core business while innovating for the future?

For many of us, these competing and interwoven demands are a source of conflict. Since our brains love to make either-or choices, we choose one option over the other. We deal with the uncertainty by asserting certainty.

There's a better way.

In Both/And Thinking, Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis help readers cope with multiple, knotted tensions at the same time. Drawing from more than twenty years of pioneering research, they provide tools and lessons for transforming these tensions into opportunities for innovation and personal growth.

Filled with practical advice and fascinating stories--including firsthand tales from IBM, LEGO, and Unilever, as well as from startups, nonprofits, and even an inn at one of the four corners of the world--Both/And Thinking will change the way you approach your most vexing problems.

Review Quotes

Thinkers50 2023 Winner: Breakthrough Idea Award

"Presents original and thought-provoking ideas backed by solid research in a clear and compelling fashion." -- Dagbladet Børsen

"Citing extensive research that is applied to multiple case studies, the book makes a compelling case for both/and thinking and embracing a paradox mindset in all aspects of our lives." -- School Administrator (AASA, American Association of School Administrators)

Named one of "Behavioral Scientist's Notable Books of 2022"

"Leading with captivating stories and relatable metaphors, Smith and Lewis translate academic research into practical advice." -- TD magazine (Association for Talent Development)

Advance Praise for Both/And Thinking:

"Life is full of paradoxes, and too often we ignore them or try to erase them when we should be learning how to manage them. Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis are the world's leading experts on the topic, and grappling with their ideas is a valuable step toward becoming more comfortable with tensions and trade-offs." -- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Think Again; host, TED podcast WorkLife

"At a time when humanity is facing some of its greatest challenges, every leader must know how to turn trade-offs into opportunities, tension into creativity, and discomfort into ambition. Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis show us how." -- Paul Polman, former CEO, Unilever; coauthor, Net Positive

"Smith and Lewis show how you can move from a mindset of constraint to one of abundance and build businesses prepared to execute for today and innovate for the future." -- Linda A. Hill, the Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School; author, Becoming a Manager; and coauthor, Collective Genius and Being the Boss

"Both/And Thinking will be a flashlight in the dark for anyone--those grappling with organizational and societal challenges, as well as individuals dealing with family issues and life-changing decisions." -- Elizabeth Lesser, cofounder, Omega Institute; bestselling author, Broken Open and Cassandra Speaks

"This book is, pure and simple, a masterpiece. And every word and semicolon is backed up by hard research. Don't skim--dig in, take deep breaths, and reflect." -- Tom Peters, coauthor, In Search of Excellence

About the Author

Wendy K. Smith is the Emma Smith Morris Professor of Management and academic director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the University of Delaware's Lerner College of Business & Economics. Her work has won multiple academic awards and been featured in outlets such as Harvard Business Review, Academy of Management Journal, and Organization Science.

Marianne W. Lewis is dean of the University of Cincinnati's Lindner School of Business and a professor of management. She formerly served as dean at Cass Business School in London. Her work has appeared in major outlets such as the New York Times, CNBC, the Financial Times, and Harvard Business Review.

You can find the authors at:
linkedin.com/in/wendykimsmith
linkedin.com/in/marianne-lewis-8214535