Option Solving Blog

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A topic that comes up on a regular basis and even more so in our highly efficiency oriented workplace environments is how executives/strategists cope with role stresses and burnout. Notwithstanding our current obsession with efficiency – our euphemism for squeezing on time and resources, finding short-cuts, minimizing elegance, and producing immediate profitability – to compensate for our overall economy’s insufficient effectiveness, we constantly strive to do more with less. Burnout is also due to our own skill and resource limitations to cope with these efficiency pressures.

So your author set about finding an optimal solution to burnout by asking the following question: “What is an executive/strategist’s optimum option for coping with their role demands to avoid burnout; considering 1) their own strengths-limitations, 2) operating in high efficiency oriented workplaces, 3) being surrounded by competent, collaborative colleagues, and 4) potentially operating in conducive market-external environments?” Again, it’s appropriate to focus on just these four considerations to reduce complexity in their eventual conclusion, when that ultimate moment arrives – despite there being many other possible considerations out there.

Your author decided to create yin and yang “bookends” posed by this question, to keep his mind focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused on such occasions.   

These turned out to be: “Go along for the ride; let the chips fall where they may” – Lack of focus and sense of direction can create anxiety;and “Establish highly structured, command-and-control environs” – Can induce significant extra stresses and strains. You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options, which shows why they are not particularly good ideas for consideration. Even so, these bookends will now hopefully nudge your editor’s intuitive thinking into high gear to come-up with a range of realistic options – see ourLatest Worked Option Example.

He then set-out to produce at least five plus realistic options – A thru F – that would enable him to pursue Emotional Distancing (ED). EDwould allow him or a client to take a couple of hours or more of quiet reflection, or even sleep on it, beforecoming to any final conclusion. You can replace these proposed five options with any new ones of your own.

His final options look quite interesting and both he and his clients would be particularly intrigued by – Option B: Surround w/strong, talented & motivated teams (not the cheapest) as a starter and closely followed by A.Your editor should stand-by any initial, intuitive decision, as it would likely only work against him to second-guess himself once that initial decision is made…no matter the challenges ahead.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com What is a perfectionist leader’s optimum option for minimizing their adverse impact on team members? Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time. Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com. Allow time to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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While the US would like to reduce its involvement in the Mid-East, many would like to see it take more direct action against Iran; although that is offset by Iran using proxy states to inflict damage and casualties on American forces in the region. These provocative activities are now in the hundreds testing the US’s patience to its limits. The US is being pushed to retaliate from all sides, especially after three Americans died due to recent proxy action.

It is appropriate for this author to ask the question: “What is the USA’s optimum option to warding off Iran in the Middle East; considering 1) Iran relies on proxies to shield it from direct US action, 2) Iran continues its efforts to build nuclear weapons, 3) Iran provokes hate toward the US, and 4) Iran is reliant on exporting oil for economic stability?” Again, it’s appropriate to focus on just these four considerations to reduce complexity in your editor’s eventual suggestion, when that ultimate moment arrives – despite there being many other possible considerations out there.

He decided to create yin and yang “bookends” posed by this question, to keep his mind focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused on such occasions.   

These came to be: “Establish a new trade treaty with Iran” – Unlikely. Too much bad blood to help;and “Cut a conducive deal with China to supply it with oil instead” – China likes to work with Iran to irk  the US. You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options, which shows why they are not particularly good ideas for consideration. Even so, these bookends will now hopefully nudge this editor’s intuitive thinking into high gear to come-up with a range of realistic options – see ourLatest Worked Option Example.

He then aimed to produce at least five plus realistic sub-options – A thru E or F – that would enable US leaders to pursue Emotional Distancing (ED). EDwould allow them to take a couple of hours or more of quiet reflection, or even sleep on it, beforecoming to any final conclusion. You can replace these proposed five options with any new ones of your own.

His final options look quite interesting and he was particularly intrigued by – Option B: Pressure proxies to stay out of   situation – embargos, choke financials, no trade, military action, etc. The US leaders should stand-by any initial decision, as it would likely only work against them to second-guess themselves once that initial decision is made…no matter the challenges ahead.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions. What is the optimum option for Western nations to pursue against Russia to protest Navalny’s unfortunate death? Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time.Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com. Allow time to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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A nasty war with no satisfactory solution in sight. Israel has vowed to demolish Hamas so that it cannot repeat the trigger event on October 7^th. The world so far seems to be siding with the Palestinians, who are the in the middle of a vicious battle where many lives will be lost. Many demonstrations are occurring across the world, although primarily on the side of the Palestinians. The US has pledged to give whatever reasonable support to Israel that it can both politically and militarily. Meanwhile the scenario is like a tinder box, since it could easily erupt into WWIII. Russia and China are giving Iran all the encouragement it needs to foment all its proxies in the region to attack small American bases in the area. China is likely hoping the US will become fully committed in the Middle East thereby possibly giving it an opening to potentially invade Taiwan. Russia is hoping this war will distract US and Allied efforts in Ukraine.

So this author decided to examine the options Israel has to resolve this tough situation. He came up with the following question to bring some objectivity to the situation: “What is the likely optimum solution to the Israeli-Hamas war; considering 1) Israel’s heightened level of rage, 2) world and Arab support of Palestinians, 3) Israel’s determination to crush Hamas forever, 4) need to recover 200+ Israeli/Western hostages alive, and 5) Allied pressure on Israel to be wise for longer term solutions?” Again, it’s appropriate to focus on just these five considerations to reduce complexity in your editor’s eventual suggestion, when that ultimate moment arrives – despite there being many other possible considerations out there.

He then set about producing yin and yang “bookends,”as posed by this question, to keep his mind focused against other immediate mental distractions. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused on such occasions.   

These came to be: “Let events play their natural course” – Questionable success – too much anger in support of Palestinians;and “Western allies push Israel out of Gaza” – Strong reluctance to do so  You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely sub-options, which shows why they are not particularly good ideas for consideration. Even so, these revised bookends will now hopefully nudge this editor’s intuitive thinking into high gear once more to come-up with a range of realistic options – see ourLatest Worked Option Example.

He then set-about coming up with at least five plus realistic options – A thru E or F – that would then be ready for some emotional distancing, Emotional distancing would allow him to take a couple of hours or more of quiet reflection, or even sleep on it, beforecoming to any final conclusion/ suggestion. You can replace these proposed options with any new ones of your own.

His final six options look quite interesting and he was particularly intrigued by – Option B: Israel besiege Hamas forces, negotiate hostages release, minimize collateral deaths – immediately followed by Option E: Israel withdraw the moment UN or United Arab administration installed. He should then offer these options to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It would only likely work against the PM to second-guess himself once his initial decision was made…no matter the challenges ahead.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com. Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time: “Peel the Onion: What is the optimum solution to the Hamas-Israeli War?”Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com. Allow time to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

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