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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Genius of Opposites summary
How Introverts and Extroverts Achieve Extraordinary Results Together
9 mins
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"The Genius of Opposites" by Jennifer B. Kahnweiler is a guide for harnessing the power of opposite personalities in personal and professional relationships. It offers insights and strategies for leveraging differences and achieving success through collaboration.
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The Genius of Opposites
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When extroverts and introverts overcome their differences, they can achieve great things.
What would the introverted John Lennon have done without his extroverted counterpart, Paul McCartney? As their relationship proves, opposed personality types can create wonderful things when they work together.
You’ve probably heard time and time again that people are either introverts or extroverts. But can you explain the difference? It’s more than just a preference for solitude or company. Rather, it’s the way you recharge your batteries, so to speak, that makes all the difference.
If, after spending time in a large group of people, you feel the need to curl up alone for a while, then you’re probably an introvert. If you feel totally energized after hanging out with a crowd, but start to feel edgy and tired after spending too much time on your own, then you might be an extrovert. In short: introverts extract their energy from within, while extroverts absorb it from the outside world.
It’s perhaps not surprising, then, that introverts and extroverts don’t always see eye to eye. While introverts might regard extroverts as shallow, extroverts might perceive introverts as snobbish or cold. And so, though many high-performing extrovert-introvert duos seem to have a great collaborative relationship, these relationships are often torn apart by underlying differences.
Nobel Prize-winners James Watson and Francis Crick, for example, though utterly unlike one another, joined forces and made the twentieth century’s greatest scientific discovery: DNA. And yet they ceased to work together following this. Why? Because they no longer had a common goal that helped them overcome their differences.
Still, it is possible to create a great working dynamic between opposites. That’s what we’ll be exploring in the following blinks!
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What is The Genius of Opposites about?
The Genius of Opposites (2015) sheds light on the potential for partnerships between seemingly incompatible personality types: extroverts and introverts. These blinks lay out five basic steps that can turn the most unlikely business partnerships into the most successful.
The Genius of Opposites Review
The Genius of Opposites by Jennifer B. Kahnweiler (2015) is a book that explores the power of embracing and harnessing the differences between people in order to create successful partnerships. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With its insightful exploration of diverse partnerships, the book offers practical strategies for leveraging opposite strengths, resulting in more effective collaboration.
- It presents compelling case studies of successful partnerships, showcasing how opposites can complement and enhance each other's abilities.
- By highlighting the importance of valuing and leveraging differences, the book challenges conventional thinking and encourages readers to embrace diversity for better results, making it anything but boring.
Best quote from The Genius of Opposites
Disciplining yourself to learn how and why your opposite sees the world differently is work, but the work carries rewards that far outweigh your investment.
—Jennifer B. Kahnweiler
Who should read The Genius of Opposites?
- Leaders seeking ways to improve rocky relationships
- Managers interested in how personality types bear on business
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The Genius of Opposites FAQs
What is the main message of The Genius of Opposites?
The main message of The Genius of Opposites is that embracing our differences can lead to greater success and collaboration.
How long does it take to read The Genius of Opposites?
The reading time for The Genius of Opposites varies, but it generally takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Genius of Opposites a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Genius of Opposites is a valuable read for anyone looking to improve their team dynamics. It provides practical strategies and insights for harnessing the power of opposites.
Who is the author of The Genius of Opposites?
The author of The Genius of Opposites is Jennifer B. Kahnweiler.
What to read after The Genius of Opposites?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Genius of Opposites, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Introverted Leader by Jennifer Kahnweiler
- The Introvert’s Complete Career Guide by Jane Finkle
- Acting with Power by Deborah Gruenfeld
- Quiet Power by Susan Cain
- How to Speed Read People by Patrick King
- The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch
- All You Have to Do Is Ask by Wayne Baker
- The 3-Minute Rule by Brant Pinvidic
- The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
- Adaptability by Max McKeown