International Journal of Strategy and Organisational Learning (IJSOL)
Vol.1 No.2
DOI https://www.doi.org/10.56830/IJSOL12202402
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Abstract
Abstract concepts, while readily described, can be difficult to truly grasp. Fortunately, strategies like the use of metaphors can bridge this understanding gap. This paper explores the claim by 21st-century management and leadership scholars that effective leaders must consider polarities. By drawing an analogy to driving, it clarifies the crucial ‘both/and’ perspective necessary for navigating the complex and often opposing forces. Just as driving requires constant adjustments—a driver cannot exclusively choose one action but skilfully navigates between multiple inputs to reach their destination—leaders face continuous tensions. These include (but not limited to) individual autonomy versus team cohesion and stability versus change. Leaders cannot simply choose one side of these polarities; they must integrate them, recognising the value of both. This ‘both/and’ approach fosters greater flexibility, adaptability, and ultimately, more effective leadership. The paper introduces the ‘both/and’ perspective, including the Competing Values Framework (CVF), developed to address the challenges of complex and rapidly changing environments. By clarifying the fundamentals of driving and establishing a clear link between driving and leading, this paper demonstrates the broader value of metaphors as a powerful tool in teaching and education. Furthermore, acknowledging the multiplicity of definitions of leadership —as Stodgill remarked “There are almost as many different definitions of leadership as there are people who have tried to define it” — this paper offers its own perspective.
Keywords: leadership, both/and perspective, driving a car
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