Option Solving Blog

Two weeks ago we saw some of the options that this intern had as his internship was coming to an end. After some emotional distancing, where his father allowed his son’s intuitive capabilities to reflect on the “pictogram” of six options available to him. He slept on them overnight and when he awoke, looked at his choices, and felt his best option was C) –Keep my fingers crossed for sales or mktg. position at company A.

Following our advice on “Peeling the Onion,” his father had his son figure out what his next step would be. To assist him, he decided to use the “Peeling the Onion” approach to look at his sub-options before moving ahead. With this in mind, he and his son set about creating a fresh question, which looked like this: “What is my best option is to pursue Option C and keep my fingers crossed for securing a sales or marketing position in company A; considering 1) short-on-time as internship finishes end of April, 2) believe my personality suits a sales/mktg. role, 3) I’m doing what I can to be respectful of senior managers intents, 4) and my current leader continues to be supportive of my career wishes?”

With this question in place, his son could now find appropriate yin and yang “bookends” as a framework for likely viable options. His peeling the onion bookends came out as “Leave to pursue a sales & mktg. position elsewhere” and “Accept what company A gives me” – the latter the same as before. See our Latest Worked Example to see why these two bookends, although both viable, were unlikely to stand. Even so, they were most useful as prompts for my friend’s son’s intuitive mind, when considering his final options.

He and his son subsequently produced six options, instead of the strongly recommended five as a minimum, so he was in good shape. You can see his six alternatives in our Latest Example: where one is: “Option D: Ask to spend a week with sales/mktg. team to convince them of my talent.”

Again, he encouraged his son to pursue some emotional distancing over a couple of hours and then revisit his new pictogram for a further decision point. So, which fresh option would you choose if you were in the son’s position?

As soon as a decision was made, my friend should encourage his son to put together an action initiative, while his decision issues are still fresh. Once that initiative is set, he should move forward without hesitation; despite any set backs or hesitations because his intuitive senses are more likely to be right than wrong.

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: “What will be an executive’s best business option going forward?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment »

Not so long ago a friend informed me about his son’s precarious internship situation. After a successful MBA his son had been recruited by a large industrial company as an intern with the likelihood of a more permanent position if everything went well. Unfortunately, the fortunes of his new prospective employer changed with almost non-existent sales in his division, so a moratorium was placed on any further hiring.

Now he was left with a career dilemma. Either he finds a position in another division or go elsewhere. In short order he was offered a position X within an adjacent area, but he had already held such a position before and didn’t enjoy it. That’s why he went back to business school for his MBA.  The division executive was not happy about this at all and felt the internee was making a mistake by not accepting the position. His father was concerned as to how his son would satisfactorily solve his dilemma.

Once his father came to understand the option solving approach, he thought it was worthwhile thinking through his son’s options and then discuss them with him. He was challenged to develop an initial rational question with consider-ations, which turned out to be: “What is my best option for securing the right position at company A; considering 1) short on time as internship finishes end of April, 2) my X qualification is more of hindrance than help, 3) I’m being bamboozled into a role I’m not interested in, 4) the local culture is somewhat restrictive, and 5) my current leader has been my best help to date?”  He looked at other several other considerations but chose to draw upon the most important ones. It was pointed out to him not to place too many considerations into any picture, so as not to overly complicate matters.

Now that his question was posed, he could now find appropriate yin and yang “bookends” as a framework for likely viable options. He would use his bookends for framing his chosen options and then jolt his own experiences to arrive at a minimum of five alternatives. His bookends came out as, “Leave as soon as possible” and “Accept what company A gives me.” Look at our Latest Worked Example to see why these two bookends wouldn’t stand. Even so, they were most useful as prompts for my friend’s intuitive mind, when considering his son’s final options.

He subsequently produced six options, so was in good shape. You can see his six alternatives in our Latest Example: where one is: “Option C: Keep fingers crossed for sales or mktg. position at company A.”

Based upon his “pictogram,” I nudged him to present and discuss it with his son

to determine what he saw as his best option through  the emotional distancing  technique. That is, either taking some time-out or sleeping on it. Which option would you choose if you were in the son’s position?

In two weeks, we’ll see what his son’s outcome was.

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: “Outcome of son’s choice: A corporate intern has to reconsider his options?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment »

We were recently made aware of a sizeable, growing company whose aspiring VP Sales was lured away into a different career role by a major organization. The package, new career role and associated prestige was tough for this former, aspiring executive to resist. This left the owners challenged with finding a replacement, where their sales benchstrength is not strong, they aren’t  in an easy industry to find talented sales leaders, and their position could be potentially rewarding in so many ways.

Since the owners were already pretty familiar with option solving, it didn’t take them long to start formulating an appropriate rational question: “What is our best option for installing a new VP Sales; considering 1) short on in-house sales leader candidates, 2) not an easy industry to find potential competent candidates, and 3) a potentially rewarding career position for the right person?”  There were understandably several other considerations but these were the most important ones. It’s important not to place too many considerations into the picture, so as not to overly complicate matters.

Once they had this question available, they could now produce suitable yin and yang “bookends” to set a framework for their forthcoming viable options. These bookends would frame any final choices and jolt their imaginations for producing at least five alternatives. Their bookends turned out to be, “Leave position open  until someone is groomed from within” and “Try to lure prior person back.” Our Latest Worked Example shows why these two bookends were the least appropriate. Even so, they served the useful purpose of sparking more realistic alternatives..

Now they were positioned for deriving their at least five realistic options. However, you will see they were able to produce six. You can also see these six alternatives in our Latest Example: where one is: “Option F: Bring in experienced, temporary sales leader until a fresh person is groomed.”

Based upon this “pictogram,” we encouraged them to take some time-out so as to subconsciously reflect on their options. They turned to emotional distancing  to allow their experienced minds to trawl their countless life and business experiences, and chew over the alternatives. Within hour or so they would be ready to revisit their options and choose. Which one would you choose if you were in their position?

The moment they have made their choice, they should then develop an appropriate action initiative to move forward, while it’s still all fresh in their minds.

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 corporate intern has to reconsider his options?” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)

Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment »