Unleashing the Positive Power of Differences
Polarity Thinking in Our Schools
- Jane A. G. Kise - Education Consultant
Conflict Resolution for Adults | School Change, Reform, & Restructuring | School Culture & Climate
Move from entrenched differences to common goals!
All too often, key education initiatives collapse because leaders fail to anticipate and learn from the concerns of those charged with implementation. This illuminating book shows how education leaders can bring opposing groups to common ground, resulting in a solid plan built on diverse wisdom.
Acclaimed education coach Jane Kise demonstrates how polarity thinking—a powerful tool for bridging differences developed by Barry Johnson of Polarity Partnerships—provides an alternative to endless debates and either/or thinking. Rather than seeing conflicting forces, the tools help us view them as equally important—even interdependent—concepts, approaches, or models. Readers will find:
- Ways to recognize polarities, map the positive and negative aspects, and channel energy wasted on disagreement toward a greater common purpose
- Tools for introducing and working with polarities
- Polarity mapping to help leaders improve processes for leading change and creating buy-in
- Ways to use polarity with students as a framework for higher-level thinking
“Jane Kise provides guidance for educators engaged in deep change and implementation of initiatives in which stakeholders have opposing perspectives. Through authentic examples of significant changes educators face today, Kise guides educators to leverage polarity thinking to promote commitment, engagement, and investment.”
— Joellen Killion, Senior Advisor
Learning Forward
“The mind, entrenched in the rigidity of either/or thinking, dwells on the divisions and ignores the connections of both/and. This engaging and practical book helps our students (and their teachers) transcend those divisions in a journey toward enriched enlightenment and greater flexibility.”
—Arthur L. Costa, Emeritus Professor
California State University, Sacramento
"Practical and inspirational! Leveraging the Positive Power of Differences is a must read for educators at all levels of a school system. Drawing from a wealth of information and stories from the field, Kise shows educators and students “why” they must have conversations about polarizing issues, and then shows “how” to engage productively in the conversations. Everyone benefits! After reading this book, educators and students will have the necessary tools to transform school cultures and classrooms into climates of trust and collaboration."
"Jane Kise is an expert in personality type as applied to educators. Although useful, ways of understanding leadership, coaching, and teaching, personality types are based on polarities. Kise uses them, however, as part of a framework for understanding and resolving critical polarities in education, such as depth versus breadth in curriculum. She provides a set of steps for making use of personality types and moving from conflict to common purposes and then into action for the good of student and adult learning."
"Making sense of 'pendulum swings' in education is difficult for all educators; however, the use of Jane Kise's polarity tools keeps planning, decisions, and acceptance of change centered on what’s most important—student learning!"
"We live in an increasingly polarized world. At last, Leveraging the Positive Power of Differences provides a meaningful and relevant way to harness the passion that drives people to take positions at opposing poles and leverage their energy to focus on the common good."
“Conservatism vs. liberalism; autonomy vs. interdependence; competition vs. cooperation--our lives are now and our children’s future lives will be filled with intellectual tugs of war between opposites. The mind, entrenched in the rigidity of either/or thinking, dwells on the divisions and ignores the connections of both/and. This engaging and practical book helps our students (and their teachers) transcend those divisions in a journey toward enriched enlightenment and greater flexibility. Ah, but there’s the dilemma: rigidity vs. flexibility.”
“Kise’s Unleashing the Positive Power of Differences provides pragmatic guidance for educators engaged in deep change and implementation of initiatives in which stakeholders have opposing perspectives. Through authentic examples of significant changes educators face today, Kise guides educators to leverage polarity thinking to promote commitment, engagement, and investment. Rather than squandering time and effort in determining right and wrong, Kise helps educators learn how to extract ideas from diverse stances on an issue to accelerate and sustain change. When educators use polarity thinking, they model for their students and stakeholders how to develop healthier, more productive strategies for strengthening community.”
