Ambidexterity in business and life
Ambidexterity refers to the skill of using both hands proficiently, and in a business context, it refers to the ability of a business to successfully operate on two fronts: pursuing innovative activities to drive the business forward and ensure its long-term viability, while also leveraging existing strengths to improve the efficiency and success rate of current activities. The concept of ambidexterity in business is extensively researched, particularly in relation to private organizations.
Ambidexterity is akin to the concept of yin and yang in Eastern philosophy — chaos and order, the balance of unstructured renewal, and ritualistic practices. Just like in life, conceptualizing and implementing the concept of yin and yang—innovation and efficiency improvements—is of essential importance, because it is at the base of every decision we make and paths we take.
According to the scientific literature, achieving ambidexterity for a business involves maximizing both ends of the spectrum: fostering innovation and improving existing processes. This is crucial because the business environment is constantly changing, with unpredictable variables that resemble ocean waves. From a distance, these waves may appear flat, but they gradually gain size, power, and speed, without any ability for you to control them. When a wave gains power, you have the option to position yourself well, ride it, and use its momentum to propel your business forward to a renewed breakpoint, or you can let it pass below you while you wait for the next wave, being attentive to spot it at the right time.
That is ambidexterity, and understanding this concept can assist you in examining the structure, culture, and principles that are currently either supporting or impeding your ability, as well as those around you, to effectively navigate the tension between innovation dilemmas and status quo reinforcement activities. Both aspects hold value and are important in both business and life. Neither is fully meaningful without the presence of the other, as they coexist in a delicate balance between opposing forces manifested in yin and yang, chaos and order, renewal and maintenance.
Readings on ambidexterity: