Option Solving Blog

At a recent lunch a long time business friend wanted to discuss how he could re-prime a long standing customer relationship. The recent pandemic coupled with the recent Ukraine crisis had brought some short-term financial constraints and therefore put his supplier relationship on hold.  He was particularly concerned because he felt there were a number of insightful, helpful things that could be done to aid their ongoing relationship. Your editor therefore encouraged an option solving approach to figure-out an optimum solution.

Your editor prompted to pose a question as follows: “What is your optimum option to re-prime a customer relationship; considering you 1) have had a long, solid record of success, 2) have a good rapport with key executive, 3) customer has short-term financial issues, and 4) have several insightful ideas to aid its ongoing success?” Again, it’s appropriate for him to focus on just these four considerations to reduce complexity in his eventual decision; when that ultimate decision moment arrives – despite there being many other possible considerations out there.

His friend then decided to invoke fresh applicable yin and yang “bookends”,as these will help keep his intuitive mind focused against other immediate mental distractions. 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.   

These turned out to be: “Not bother to pursue” – Could be to client’s potential detriment;and “Offer pro-bono products to help” – Potentially undermine long-term credibility. You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options, which show why they are not really for consideration. Even so, these bookends now nudge his friend’s intuitive thinking into high gear again, to consider a range of realistic options – see ourLatest Worked Example.

He has now come up with six realistic options – A thru F. He was then ready to pursue emotional distancing beforecoming to any outcome decision. He will then review these declared options, perhaps after 2 hours, later in the day, or first thing the following morning, before arriving at an optimal conclusion. You can replace his proposed options with any of your own.

While all these options look interesting, his friend was initially particularly intrigued by – Option F: Have other insightful ideas to constructively collaborate. He then decided to sleep on it and seek input from others until the following morning and then proceed accordingly. He is strongly encouraged to stick with whatever option the overall, intuitive choice happens to be.

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: “Peel the Onion: What is optimum option to re-prime customer relationship?”  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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