Option Solving Blog

We’ve been hearing a lot of soul searching after a recent mass school shooting in Florida. It is causing great heartache all-around to see such a tragedy. But there also seems to be plenty of blame all-around, including the proliferation of guns, the FBI falling short, Social Services not taking action, and incompetence at the local Sherriff’s department.

It seemed appropriate to use option solving as a possible approach for pinpointing an optimum option at this moment in time. In any event, if we could get the finest minds and wisdom around the table, we have drafted an initial question that they might consider: “What is America’s best option for reducing mass/school shootings; considering 1) wide-spread availability of powerful weapons, 2) powerful gun lobbies and NRA, 3) constitutional protections, 4) irresponsible gun sellers, and 5) inadequate social service/police/FBI professionalism?”  These five primary considerations provide perspective to the overall question. Even though there were others, we restricted it to the most important ones so as not to overly complicate the wise-people’s decision task.

Such experts would be challenged to create two yin and yang “bookends,” which would serve as their extreme possibilities. Such bookends would then help focus their intuitive faculties toward their most realistic options. Bookends like these are vital for preventing people’s fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing focus away from the issue at hand.

Yin and yang bookends that surfaced were: “Leave things as they are” and “Confiscate all guns and close gun stores,” both of which seemed the least likely possibilities: so they would challenge them to think through more realistic ones – see our Latest Worked Example.

Now our national wise-owls would set-about developing at least five realistic options, so as to stretch their overall possibilities. You will see where they would likely produce six realistic options but then turn to emotional distancing to surface the most optimum solution. Feel free to review their potential six in our Latest Example, one of which was: “Option-B: Confidential Safe-guidance Places for parents with at-risk children.”

With their “pictogram” potentially ready for further thought, they would now pursue some emotional distancing at that moment in time. Emotional distancing would allow their intuitive minds to sub-consciously review this range of options against so many of their similar life experiences and choices; thereby seeking an optimal solution. What option would you choose?

If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area.  Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Next posting will be in two week’s time: “Spring Madness –Everyone’s preoccupied: What option would you choose to address?” 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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