Option Solving Blog

A friend’s daughter was having to figure out her next career step because she wasn’t making the career progress she had expected at her current job. So I walked him through the option solving approach so that he could give her the best counsel.  He promised to talk with me after the event and this what he shared:

Initially, he helped her figure out the right question with due considerations. This is the question they devised: “What would be my next best career move, considering my limited budget, not wanting to be in New York, accumulated insufficient experience to date, have a job with good medical benefits, and have to build a universe of possibilities.”

Once they had completed this step, they produced  two fringe yin and yang “bookends;” to spur producing more plausible options. These ‘bookends’ were, “Go do something completely different” and “Relocate to a  similar instructing position and start from there,”… as revealed in our Latest Example. You will also discover why she didn’t want to pursue these.

Now this question and the bookends were in place, they set to work on producing at least 5 plausible options.  You can see their choices in the latest example, one of which was, “Seek a position in back office operations: be an instructor on the side” – Option E.

With their five options in place, they immediately moved to an emotional distancing mode: where they took a further 15-20 minute break to focus on other issues. This allowed his daughter’s intuitive mind to reflect subconsciously on the option solving picture they had created and be ready to make her choice. This she did and made her optimum decision.

From there they proceeded to discuss “Next Steps,” while the issues were still front and center of her thinking. Such a move also facilitated her moving forward without wasting any time.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area.  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Next posting in 2 weeks: “My best options for the New Year?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger.)

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After an adjournment of two hours, Mitt Romney and his key team returned to “Peel the Onion” with their earlier chosen option: “Lead a cavalcade of volunt-eers from Mid-West States to assist those in stricken areas” – Option D. They felt this would not only be the right thing to do, rather than sit on the sidelines, but it would also generate the right sort of leadership publicity to keep his campaign in the public eye. Obama would have the benefit of public sources to be front and center: Romney would have the benefit of volunteers to bring relief wherever possible.  The question was, how to do this in the most effective way: hence the need for Option Solving.

Being that much more conversant with the option solving technique, Romney’s key team quickly plunged into generating the right question, in combination with the most important considerations. This turned out to be: “What would be the best way to assemble a Mid-West States cavalcade to aid those in stricken Hurricane Sandy areas, considering time is of the essence, relevance of the assistance offered, might be rejected by opposite supporters, and the amount of volunteer time available?” Again these considerations emerged from a list of seven: that is, approximately 50%.

Next they produced  two fringe yin and yang “bookends;” to spur producing more plausible options. These ‘bookends’ were, “Don’t bother at all” and “Encourage people from across the country to pitch in,” as revealed in our Latest Example. You will also discover why they didn’t want to pursue these.

With question and bookends in place, the group set to work on producing at least 5 plausible options.  You can see their choices in the latest example, one of which was, “Ask politicians, Governors in affected States and list immediate needs:  then organize volunteers accordingly ” – Option C.

Once their five options were in place, they immediately stepped into an emotional distancing mode: where they took a further 15-20 minute break to focus on other matters. This allowed their intuitive minds to reflect subconsciously on the option solving picture they had created.

When the group reconvened, they again used “Post-its” to declare their confidential vote by using one of the five letters of the alphabet only. A quick recap on the question, bookends and five options and they cast their vote. A couple of options rose to the top, although one came out ahead of the other. After some discussion of these two, the majority favored the one with the most votes. From there they proceeded to discuss “Next Steps,” while the issues were still front and center of their thinking. Such a move also facilitated their moving forward without wasting any time.

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area.  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Next posting in 2 weeks: “A daughter struggling with her next career step?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger.)

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