Option Solving Blog

A recent chance contact with the principal of a high impact business association created a potential opportunity for a friend to be introduced to a high-level potential EL collaborator. The likely introducer was forbidden to make any direct approaches within her venture, even though that person appeared rather interested in the issue of “leadership.” It was therefore necessary for this friend to consider other options to potentially leverage a hopeful opportunity.

The friend’s question turned out to be: “What is optimum option for securing senior level enlightened leadership  (EL) collaborator through President contact;considering there’s 1) some initial interest with President contact, 2) leadership is mutual bonding topic, 3) high stake political sensitivities could be involved, and 4) success could progress the EL cause?” You will notice that this friend should hold himself to four considerations, to reduce the complexity of his eventual decision-making when the moment arrives: despite there being other possibilities out there.

Now he had to develop two appropriate yin and yang “bookends”,as these would help keep his intuitive 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.   

Two bookends came to mind as: “Give up altogether” –potential lost opportunity;and “Write directly to board members for their support” – likely to backfire. You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options. Even so, these bookends will now nudge his intuitive thinking into high gear – see ourLatest Worked Example.

It was then important this friend to come up with at least five realistic options, although he may ultimately came up with six within a decent amount of time. He could  then pursue emotional distancing, which is a form of objective thinking, before making his choice sometime after that …perhaps after 2 hours, later in that day, or first thing the following morning. You can replace his proposed options with any of your own. You will note one of his possible options as: Option B: Write directly to board members for their support.

In fact, he came back to these alternatives within an hour or so, after pursuing other important matters, and did make the choice of Option F. From there, he was then able to put together an action initiative, while things were still fresh. He felt this would meet his requirement in an optimal way.

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: “What should be the optimal priority for rebuilding US national unity?” 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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