Feeling pulled in opposite directions? You might not need to choose a side.

Sometimes, our best ideas emerge when we hold two opposing ideas together long enough to discover something new.

That’s the miracle of both-and thinking: learning to stay with the tension and see possibilities we might otherwise miss.

In this episode of The Spacemakers, Daniel Sih and Matt Bain explore how to put this way of thinking into practice.

Drawing on Roger Martin’s idea of the “opposable mind”, they consider how this way of thinking can help us navigate the complexity of work and life. Career and wellbeing. Planning and spontaneity. Caring for ourselves and caring for others.

Through three memorable metaphors — a barbell, a metronome and a tightrope — they explore how to hold these tensions and adjust as life changes. Living well requires movement, attention and a willingness to reconsider our choices.

They also unpack three habits that narrow our thinking: settling for an unhelpful compromise, digging into our own position and treating people who disagree with us as the enemy.

Your reflection for the fortnight: when tension feels uncomfortable, which habit do you drift towards? And what might become possible if you stayed open to another perspective?

Discover more:

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This season is made possible with support from our sponsors Bulk Nutrients and Productivity Masterclass.

This podcast is recorded and produced by Wildersound and Talon Media.

Mentioned in this episode:

Spacemakers Productivity Masterclass 2027

This episode is brought to you by Productivity Masterclass — a life-changing program to help senior professionals work smarter, get organised, and take their productivity to the next level. Check out our next program at https://spacemakers.au/masterclass.

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