Option Solving Blog

We were going to focus on another business issue, but the current moment in the NBA 2015-16 playoffs provided an interesting dilemma for GSW’s coach, Steve Kerr, in such a precarious must-win situation.  Thinking through what I would do, if I were in his shoes, I would expose the team to an option solving exercise; on the basis that, the more they are part of the key playoff decisions, the more they are likely to fight for making those decisions become a reality.

Once I’ve helped Kerr understand the principles of the option solving approach, he can then apply his rational expertise to build an appropriate question and considerations, to help get the team on a roll when the time comes. He should not share it with his players until the last reasonable moment, to avoid the possibility that any outcome decision could leak out. His team question could look like this: “What is GSW’s best moment to make a major push against Oklahoma City in Game 6: considering 1) already down 3 games to 2, so face elimination, 2) won’t have home-court advantage, 3) the Warriors are probably exhausted from their record regular season run, and 4) they will need to keep the game score close?” Note how we encouraged him to restrict his considerations to four, despite there being others, in order not to make the team’s question overly complex.

With his question in place, we now set about creating appropriate likely yin and yang “bookends” to form a framework for the team’s possible viable options. These could be as follows: “Accept what will be will be” and “Bring in a whole new team with fresh legs.” Since these are both untenable for team morale, despite being valid, you can see from our Latest Worked Example why he or his team are unlikely to seriously consider these two bookends. Even so, such improbable options would act as valuable prompts for his team’s intuitive minds, when members contemplate their final “pictogram”: to elicit an optimum choice.

You will see where I’ve created a minimum of five options, in order to glean the minimum number of helpful options. I’ve introduced a sixth option for allowing the team to inject its proposal(s); which would help pull Kerr’s players in their decision process. You can see these six alternatives in our Latest Example – click on that tab – where one is: “Option E: Combination of periods.”

I will now do my best to pass along this scenario to Steve Kerr, although I should probably do my own option solving exercise to figure out the best way to do that considering how difficult it is likely to reach him. If he latches onto it, I would encourage him to pursue as much emotional distancing time as is possible for his team member’s to utilize their intuitive minds and tap into their playoff experiences and relate them to these options. So, which option would you choose if you were in the GSW team’s position?

If nothing else, we will see after the game whether the whole franchise made the right plays and choices.

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’s our best option if our current proposal is turned down?” 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)

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While in Florida working with a client sometime back, she pointed out some of the relationship difficulties she was experiencing with a key product executive. He had been in her company for quite some time and had done some great things, but the two of them were increasingly at odds over the corporate culture and progress. She didn’t want to lose him, owing to his talents and creativity, but their difficult relationship was having an increasing impact on other key players.

Once she understood the principles of the option solving approach, she participated in applying her rational thinking to put an appropriate question and considerations together; as if acting on his behalf. It came out like this: “What is executive’s best business option going forward: considering 1) could consider giving a stake in a new product area, 2) complete the transaction asap, 3) continuing as we are makes everyone feel uncomfortable and , 4) retain a solid working relationship throughout?” Note how we contained her to four considerations, even though there were others, in order not to make the question overly complex.

Now she had this question in place, she set about anticipating her executive’s likely yin and yang “bookends” to form a framework for possible viable options. These transpired as follows: “Remain as current Head of Product Sales” and “Find another position elsewhere.” Since these were both probably untenable for her executive, you can look at our Latest Worked Example to see why he probably wouldn’t consider these two bookends. Even so, they would act as prompts for her executive’s intuitive mind, when he reviews the resulting “pictogram” so as to produce more viable options.

You will see where she subsequently created six options on his behalf, instead of the strongly recommended five as a minimum, which included space for him to suggest his own option(s) when the time came. Such an activity would help pull him into the process. You can see her/his (?) six alternatives in our Latest Example: where one is: “Option B: Work from separate office away from HO, while considering options.”

However, the intention was for this business owner to have a quiet discussion with her executive about their impasse, let him produce his own sixth option, or more, and encourage him to pursue some emotional distancing overnight to allow his intuitive mind to contemplate his life’s experiences and relate them to these options. So, which option would you choose if you were in this executive’s position?

The woman owner was briefed on how to handle the situation, when her

executive came back to her the following morning, with a decision on his preferred option. In essence, this would then give them the opportunity to work through a likely action initiative, while the whole thinking was still fresh in his mind. Despite any drawbacks, he should be encouraged to move ahead, since his intuitive mind had helped him pick his best option based on his known personality and circumstances.

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’s our best option if current proposal is turned down?” 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)

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