Exploring Both/And with the Polarity Navigator by Alexis Niki.

A polarity is a pair of seemingly opposite but interdependent values, energies, or perspectives that exist in a dynamic relationship. When one side is overemphasized for too long, it can narrow our thinking and leave us stuck in unproductive patterns.

Unlike problems, which can be solved, polarities are ongoing tensions that must be navigated over time. Think of stability and change, empathy and accountability, or autonomy and belonging. Each pole offers something essential, and the opportunity lies in engaging the tension in ways that respond to the situation.

Some polarities don’t trouble us. We navigate them with ease. Others keep us stuck. We favor one side, resist the other, and reinforce habits or beliefs that limit our options. Often, we don’t even realize we’re facing a polarity. Or if we do, we’re unsure what to do with it. So we default to compromise, or resign ourselves to the tug-of-war, assuming that’s just how it is.

In this session, we’ll explore the Polarity Navigator—a tool for recognizing and mapping these dynamics while building a shared language. We’ll explore two of the five steps of mapping a polarity and open space for Both/And thinking. This helps us move beyond the thin stories we often live by and toward more expansive narratives about how we perceive, relate, and engage.

Alexis Niki is a Narrative Leadership Coach and Strategic Storyteller. She founded StoryNova to develop innovative approaches to unlocking new insights and creative capabilities based on narrative intelligence. No matter who she works with, Alexis always focuses on the same thing: helping clients become more intentional about the stories they enact in the world. She's based in Paris, France.