What Both/And thinking has opened up for members — leading communities, classrooms, organisations, and themselves.
Both/And throws light on something that's commonplace. When you're getting people to notice something that's ubiquitous in their own lives, you're indeed on to something!
The mapping step was impactful and allowed me to understand how a problem or scenario can be approached from a different lens.
Most important in my mind is simply being aware of Both/And thinking at work, being able to assess where we're at and then how best to manage the situation. Also to recognize that polarities exist on an individual as well as group level, driven by dynamics in either realm.
Understanding that one of the primary problems I face at work is a both/and (structure and flexibility) helped me realize I might be able to approach it differently.
The ah-ha moment was when I was able to understand the impact of both/and touchpoint and how the need of one thing cannot be successful without the other and you cannot stay in one area too long.
I see both/and thinking to not only connect with my students but enhance their thinking by looking at things creatively through another lens. Developing their creative mindset with challenges, goals, and expectations that implements positively and growth.
Rather than feeling pulled toward one or the other, both/and thinking could help me see that both sides feed into my success. My commercial work provides stability and resources, while my community-driven work fuels my purpose and brand identity.
Both/And thinking helps my mental and physical health by balancing self-improvement with self-acceptance. I recognize and appreciate who I am, where I am, and what I can do right now, all the while I am still developing my skills and building new knowledge.
I am striving for balance between my work and my personal life to improve my mental and physical health. Both/And thinking helps me recognize the importance of both which will help me avoid burn out, and maintain my professional responsibilities.
Professionally, I can use Both/And thinking to help balance teacher-led discussion with student-discovery. Students can engage in meaningful discussion and discovery, while being guided and meeting all NYS standards. Personally, I can use Both/And thinking for work-life balance, and to manage exercise expectations with reality.
When it comes to my personal life, I hold a lot of value in structure and stability with little flexibility as it tends to make me more anxious. As a result, I tend to be more stressed, I think. This is something I want to work on more because I didn't consider the need for a balance of both. I need to let go a little more.
I could see using the mapping step (or perhaps mentally envisioning the map) in order to create a balance in my curriculum and the structure of my classroom.
The realization that two opposing sides have something to offer and can favor a viable solution. It ties into the concept of looking at things in a different way instead of black or white. I wish more of our class was dedicated to this concept.
In terms of facilitating the creative process, Both/And Thinking allows me to embrace both divergent and convergent thinking. By embracing seemingly contradictory ideas at the same time I can encourage those who I am facilitating to explore novel combinations.
As a result of Both/And thinking I can use this information professionally and personally. It allows me to think more critically about things before making any decisions.
Both/And thinking encourages balance and adaptability throughout the creative process. Leaders can encourage individual creative thinking, while also providing direction to their team; similarly teachers can encourage their students to be creative while facilitating group discussion and learning.
