Ambidextrous Leadership explained

Ambidextrous Leadership - Toolshero

Ambidextrous Leadership: this article provides a practical explanation of Ambidextrous Leadership. Next to what this leadership style is (meaning and definition), this article also highlights Organisational Ambidexterity, the role of innovation, the balance in Leadership Styles and thise leadership style in practive. Enjoy reading!

What is Ambidextrous Leadership? Meaning

In general, ambidexterity refers to the ability to use both the left and the right hand equally. The word ambi is derived from Latin and means ‘both’. Dexter means good or favourable, which makes ambidexterity ‘both favourable’.

Ambidexterity in organisations refers to the fact that the organisations use both exploration and exploitation techniques simultaneously to be successful. This entails that the circumstances and opportunities must be utilised by conducting business activities that redefine the current business model by taking risks.

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If the organisation performs well on both fronts—exploration and exploitation—it’s capable of experiencing fast and continuous growth.

Companies that focus too much on exploration, run the risk of wasting resources on ideas and concepts that might not be useful or feasible, or that can never be developed. On the other hand, there are organisations that focus on exploitation too much; they are unable to achieve an optimal level of success.

Ambidextrous Leadership definition

Ambidextrous Leadership is a leadership style in which the leader possesses these qualities. In practice, the Ambidextrous Leader is a leader who doesn’t avoid risks. At the same time, under his leadership operational inefficiencies are hollowed out and new, leading activities are implemented in the current business model. Academic research suggests that Ambidextrous Leadership is positively associated with business achievements and the improvement of results for both startups and established businesses.

The term ambidexterity was first used by Robert Duncan (1976). However, it was James March who popularised the concept at the beginning of the 20th century. Therefore, it was March who was credited with developing and generating interest in this concept.

Organisational Ambidexterity

Organisational ambidexterity is defined in a variety of ways, including organisational learning, technological innovation, strategic management, organisational design and organisational adaptation. Combining exploitation and exploration, the simultaneously induced and autonomous strategic processes, and finding a balance between exploitation and exploration, all refer to the same underlying concept of organisational ambidexterity.

Often, this concerns striking the right balance, such as the balance between efficiency and flexibility, low costs versus differentiation, global integration versus local reactive capacity, and short-term profit versus long-term growth.

Innovation and Ambidextrous Leadership

Balancing exploitation and exploration is a definition, or requirement, of organisational ambidexterity that has concrete links to the ambidextrous leader. This allows him or her to simultaneously carry out various exploratory, learning or investigatory activities that are related to discovering new knowledge or market opportunities. This boosts innovative developments intended to safeguard the organisation’s future and generate durable economic profit.

Research by Rosing shows that exploration is linked to radical innovation, to creating new product markets and the development of new technologies. The profile of the ambidextrous leader is often linked to knowledge expansions and technological breakthroughs.

Exploitation on the other hand can be connected to refining and expanding existing competencies, techniques and technological masterpieces that create return. Rosing studied this principle as well and discovered that, in the innovative context, exploitation particularly refers to implementation.

Naturally, each organisation requires a different type of leadership at different moments. The environment is often highly competitive and is confronted with various complex circumstances. A good leader must therefore be ambidextrous and have the ability to carry out different actions simultaneously and undergo multiple multi-level learning processes.

Balance in Leadership Styles

This adaptive ability means that ambidextrous leaders have the ability and skills to compete with their organisation in a highly changing market where emphasises lies on incremental innovations, efficiency and cost saving. On the other hand, they must also have the ability to thrive in an environment that focuses on flexibility, speed and radical innovations.

As a result, the ambidextrous approach of leadership managers might focus too much on short-term success and long-term failure. Therefore, effective managers must keep a proper balance between various leadership styles. In certain situations, a transformational leadership style might be desirable, whereas in other moments, transactional leadership might be more beneficial.

The same is demonstrated in a study by Chang and Hughes, who concluded that good leadership behaviour is characterised by the capacity to adapt, be tolerant regarding risks and making employees aware of the necessity of ambidexterity. For this reason, Ambidextrous Leadership is generally viewed as the ideal leadership style.

Ambidextrous Leadership in Reality

The challenge is to convert the term ambidexterity into a realistic organisational setting. O’Reilly and Tushman conducted research into this matter and discovered clear indications to embrace ambidexterity.

First, they require that the decision of the ambidextrous leader must have a clear and strategic intention. This intention must contain both exploratory and exploitative possibilities. Furthermore, ambidextrous leaders must create a shared vision and culture in which a joint identity maintains a healthy balance between exploration and exploitation.

The ambidextrous leader can take a step back to identify the decisiveness of others. The style has been well documented throughout the years, and each and every time it turns out that it requires someone with a clear sense of direction for the organisation and who can offer both support and freedom to individuals.

It’s not easy, certainly when people in the organisation are already used to a different leadership style. It’s also difficult to know when to take a step back and when others must be given more responsibility.

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What Do You Think?

What do you think? Do you recognise this explanation of Ambidextrous Leadership? What do you believe are factors that ensure the ambidextrous leader encourages innovations? Do you think you can use Ambidextrous Leadership in your environment? Do you agree with the above, or do you have anything to add?

Share your experience and knowledge in the comments box below.

More information

  1. Chang, Y. Y., & Hughes, M. (2012). Drivers of innovation ambidexterity in small-to medium-sized firms. European Management Journal, 30(1), 1-17.
  2. Zacher, H., Robinson, A. J., & Rosing, K. (2016). Ambidextrous leadership and employees’ self‐reported innovative performance: The role of exploration and exploitation behaviors. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 50(1), 24-46.
  3. Rosing, K., Frese, M., & Bausch, A. (2011). Explaining the heterogeneity of the leadership-innovation relationship: Ambidextrous leadership. The leadership quarterly, 22(5), 956-974.

How to cite this article:
Janse, B. (2019). Ambidextrous Leadership. Retrieved [insert date] from Toolshero: https://www.toolshero.com/leadership/ambidextrous-leadership/

Original publication date: 04/18/2019 | Last update: 06/12/2023

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Ben Janse
Article by:

Ben Janse

Ben Janse is a young professional working at ToolsHero as Content Manager. He is also an International Business student at Rotterdam Business School where he focusses on analyzing and developing management models. Thanks to his theoretical and practical knowledge, he knows how to distinguish main- and side issues and to make the essence of each article clearly visible.

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