Dualities: Structure & Flexibility

Dualities consist of two components, often both can be seen as strengths and both have benefits, however sometimes they seem to oppose each other, in certain situations. You can switching in and out of them, like an infinity loop ∞, they coexist and going in and out of each one where appropriate can be more beneficial than using just the one skill.

Potentially this theme, or variations of it, are coming up more in coaching due to COVID-19, conflict in dualities are often related to transitions and change, which is why some agile concepts fit in well.

There are often both positive and negative sides to most skills, usually when they are not applied in the appropriate way or when gone too far or to an extreme. From a more positive perspective structure can be being seen as organized, on top of things, planning or reliable. Flexibility’s positive sides can be adaptability, innovative or creative even. However, on the more negative side of the spectrum when things go too far; structured could be seen as inflexible, unable to adapt, too fixed mindset, rigid or stubborn. A more extreme negative perception to flexibility could come across as chaos, lacking planning, vision or direction, disorganized, messy, not know what you want or what is needed, even confused or unfocused.

You probably have heard the saying “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail” by Benjamin Franklin or the concept of planning kills creativity, imagination or innovation. Whether you agree with them or not, the two concepts do sometimes come across as opposing one another.

This isn’t to say both skills are not useful, they are both highly valuable skills when used in the right way and at the right time, but there can sometimes be a struggle or conflict that can arise between the two, especially when we have to change the way we are doing things to adapt to a new situation.

So how to work with both? First off, the “one size fits” all approach doesn’t seem to be relevant, so these points are more how to figure out what is relevant or when its relevant to switch from structure to flexibility and back. One theme which appears to be key throughout these points is awareness, where there is change, there is often a shift needed, often something is new or different,  which may have less understanding or knowledge around it and a lot more unknown and uncertainty.

·       Notice when you feel a conflict or things do not seem quite right.

·       Reflect what is working and what is not anymore. Either when something has happened which is not going right or at regular intervals throughout a change period.

·       Try switching between different approaches with what might work better and see if it does (in this case between structure and flexibility, but it could be something else), if it does work better, great and if not let it go and try something else and be open to trying different things.   

Both flexibility and structure can coexist, structure can create more space for flexibility and with it more freedom. The same way good operational processes can allow for more space for strategy.

How are you going to implement both structure and flexibility in your life?