Liz Monroe-Cook, Ph.D. – Leveraging Polarity and Creativity

Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents

Our 33rd episode of the Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents Podcast Series features Liz Monroe-Cook, Ph.D., a consulting psychologist in organizational applications who is one of the foremost authorities on leveraging polarities. She earned an MA in counseling, and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Michigan State University, and a Graduate Certificate in Creativity from the Center for Applied Imagination.

Liz leverages polarity and combines it with Creative Problem Solving in her work with individuals, teams, and organizations and is a frequent presenter at conferences worldwide. The creator of Polarity Thinking was Barry Johnson, and he has been a great source of inspiration in her life. She shares how polarity thinking helps her clients address both sides of an organizational issue and move from "one-sided creativity" to "whole-picture creativity." She made it her mission "to introduce polarity thinking to the creativity community and bring deliberate creativity, approaches, and tools to the polarity thinking community. "

A book recommendation to extend the learning on this topic is Liz's chapter (Ch 9) entitled "Polarity Thinking and Creative Problem Solving" in Polarity Practitioners. And: Making a Difference by Leveraging Polarity, Paradox or Dilemma; Volume Two: Applications. Amherst: HRD Press, 2021. Volume 1 is Foundations by Barry Johnson.

Liz's first exposure to deliberate creativity was attending the Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI) while working in Qualitative Research. She will attend this conference for the 33rd year and describes its benefits for new attendees and those who have participated for many years. She is on the Board of Directors of the Creative Education Foundation and has received their Distinguished Leader and Leadership Service & Commitment Awards.

Learn about Liz's views on the importance of helping teams and organizations embrace discomfort and bring emotions into the process in a productive way to the outcome. The discussion of the future of creativity provides an optimistic view on bringing in ideas from different cultures and using technology "as a tool rather than a barrier."

Don't miss this discussion of finding creative flow in incubation and leveraging polarities as analogous to a grandfather clock. Find our podcast today on all of your favorite platforms.