M500.4.3.RB_DavisCarl

Dr. Iyengar assumes that Americans believe the following when it comes to making choices:

11)   Make your own choices,

22)  More options leads to better choices, and

33)    Never say no to choice.

Reflect on these assumptions in your Leadership blog. Do you agree with Dr. Iyengar? What is the implication of her comments on leadership?

 

Watching the TED talk (TEDGlobal, 2010) covering Dr. Iyengar’s assumptions regarding choice has caused me to reflect on a leader’s need to apply critical thinking skills repeatedly. Through her studies, she illustrates multiple perspectives regarding each assumption, which clearly demonstrate that US beliefs do not fit all cultures. Dr. Iyengar’s talk serves to illuminate a pitfall that leaders need to avoid. That pitfall being that one’s point of view is the only one that matters. Surrounding oneself with people who either think like you or will not contradict you may lessen the number of difficult conversations one has in a day. However, the lack of breadth in perspective will lead to lower productivity, increased re-work, and eventually, higher turn-over.

Let’s take a look at each assumption. We’ll start with “Make your own choices.” As a culture, Americans take freedom of choice very seriously. That culture pervades our company cultures and shows up in our workers desires to feel they are being heard and that they have say in the choices being made about the company. On a weekly basis in my office I hear employees talking about the lack of control they feel because they are more often told what is going to happen to them than they are asked what they feel should be done. Morale is impacted and productivity takes a hit. Taking steps to give workers opportunities to have a say in their future is a cornerstone of good management.

Dr. Iyengar discusses an interesting data point regarding assumption two. She notes that when she gives subjects more than 10 options to choose from, they consistently make less skilled choices. There is a point of diminishing returns on options available. The amount of choices overwhelms the capability of our mind to rank them and we end up basically guessing. Currently, I am in the process of looking at applications for a job I have posted in my group. The number of candidates is higher than 40. I am ranking the candidates and sorting that number down to something manageable for me. I tend to prefer a number between three and six. I relate this phenomenon to the volume knob on a radio. Too much volume can make the music indecipherable. Lowering the sound level can allow the finer points of the musician’s technique come through. Too many choices make me feel similarly overwhelmed. Leaders need to know their comfort level of information.

The last assumption talks about never saying no to choice, denoting that if you have the chance to make a choice, you should. Business in the Western Hemisphere holds decision making as a highly sought after trait in its leaders. Many companies rate and rank their managers based upon their willingness to step up and make tough decisions. While a majority of the time I opt to make the decisions presented to me, I believe that there are times when not making a decision makes sense. Taking an opportunity to allow your direct reports to make a decision allows them to gain confidence and feel trusted. Conversely, recognizing situations where it is better to defer a decision to one’s manager can illustrate your deftness to those above you in the chain of command.

Viewing Dr. Iyengar’s has helped me consider choices from a leader’s perspective. I appreciate her clear thoughts and succinct examples. The discussion causes me to think about the choices I make every day as a leader and as a person. She also reminds me that my eyesight is something for which I should always be thankful. Her story about making choices without being able to see is very thought provoking. I will strive to give more consideration as to how I describe things to the sighted and the blind.

(TEDGlobal, 2010)

 

TEDGlobal (Producer). (2010, June 26, 2014). The art of choosing. TED. [Conference] Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/sheena_iyengar_on_the_art_of_choosing?language=en#

A500.3.4.RB_DavisCarl

How is the scholarly information you found in the library different from the typical information you find when you Google a leadership concept?

A marked difference is the “overall database” each tool searches through to return results.

Google is going to present numerous styles of information drawn from the “world-wide web”. Books, news articles, websites, videos are all presented on the Google search results page. Both sites will return thousands of entries based upon keywords that are entered. However, the EAGLEsearch tool uses the contents of the Hunt Library for its search area. As the library’s function is to aid in research for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral candidates, the results will naturally favor scholarly endeavors.

The ability to narrow the search via content type and that the library screen presents other, similar topics after the search is run are both very utile tools for studying and researching. Google presents a variation of the similar topics search, but it happens as you enter the term or terms at the outset. The library’s presentation of terms off to the side, based upon entries that were found under the current search, looks to be much more conducive to delving deeper into a subject.

Another great tool on the library results page is the preview button. Being able to retrieve and review a synopsis of the article without leaving the search page is very handy. Additionally, there are techniques for entering search terms in EAGLEsearch that help ensure the returned information pertains to what one needs. These techniques include using “and, “or”, or “not” between terms, using an asterisk to find all variants of a word, and using quotation marks to identify a phrase to be searched as it is written.

Also, the results in a Hunt Library search present citation type information, allowing for an additional way to determine usability of the results in a more efficient manner.

The information presented with each entry regarding its availability is another winning point. Knowing that the book is available to be retrieved, or not, as well as whether a document is available for immediate download is valuable data. Yes, Google results are often available to be looked at immediately; however, there is a constant risk that the link presented could take one’s browser to a place it does not want to go.

Most importantly, since Google has become a sales tool, there are results that are presented because a fee was collected by Google to ensure a particular entry gets presented first or in a highlighted manner. The validity of the results is therefore very often skewed. EAGLEsearch results will be driven solely by the terms and parameters entered.

The Hunt Library and EAGLEsearch combo will be a tremendous tool for me as I progress through my classes. I am very impressed by the power and usability of the program and know I will only gain more confidence in the EAGLEsearch as I use it more and more.

EAGLEsearch will be a catalyst of critical thinking. The opportunity to research various points of view through the library’s assets is a definite benefit to those who use it. I am very glad to have the opportunity to do so.

A500.2.3RB_DavisCarl

What are some standards that are the most important in your life?

Standards have played an important part in my life. As an aspect of my career, the standards to which I would be held were defined and published in manuals. I was held to these and checked regularly. Taking time to reflect on my personal standards, there are a few that stand out to me. I will elaborate on punctuality and accuracy.

I firmly believe that time is one of the most precious resources we have as humans. Being respectful of someone else's time is one of the most respectful things I can do for somebody. This standard was driven home for me in the year I spent at the Naval Academy. As they say, "...time, tide, and formation wait for no man." We were drilled to be five minutes early for any meeting. The repercussions for being four minutes early were severe enough to instill the habit quickly.

A gentleman I worked for back in the 90's was compulsive about punctuality. He once sent a fleet of dump trucks that had driven 100 miles to his ranch back to their base for making him wait five minutes. I didn’t need any other hints to know I would continue to be early to appointments.

Having had opportunities to lead groups of people, I have made it a point to respect their time and strive to run meetings on time. I know it is appreciated because they tell me so as they compare our organization to the way others are run.

I would say that this standard has become even more important to me over the years. As friends and relatives have begun to pass on, the scarcity of the “time resource” is more and more evident. I will continue to value time and act in accordance with the respect it is due.

Referring to the Standards of Critical Thinking list (Nosich, Gerald M., 2012, Learning to Think Things Through, pp. 133-161), accuracy is definitely a standard that is very important to me.

I acquired this standard through teachers demanding it of me and life lessons educating me on the repercussions of being inaccurate. The profession I have chosen to follow demands a high degree of accuracy, as well. To reach the level of Airline Transport Pilot in the eyes of the FAA, accurate performance and calculations are mandatory.

Accuracy has a direct impact on relationships and performance, both personal and professional. As I have climbed the corporate ladder, the reliance people have in me to be accurate has only grown. The larger the groups I lead, the more people rely on accurate communication and accurate direction. From a personal perspective, my family certainly expects me to be accurate in my dealings with them and with situations that affect the household.

When I was in grade school, my standard of accuracy was rather broad. It was honed via the educational system and requirements of my parents. Through the years, my personal standard of accuracy has been refined for what I will accept from myself. I also have noticed the standard for what I expect for accuracy from others has been refined through the years. As I have matured the level of accuracy I expect has become variable depending on the situation. The list of situations that I require accuracy on is adjusted, subtly, on a regular basis. Situations involving any hazard to safety, money, and family welfare will always be on the list. Topics of discussion at the water cooler don’t carry the same weight. As I continue to broaden my education and experiences, this standard will continue to be very important to me.

A5001.5.RB_DavisCarl

On the topic of Intellectual Perseverance:

As I begin the multi-year journey to earn a Master's degree, perseverance is something that I will need to have in abundance.

Let's talk about the Intellectual Perseverance definition as a valuable intellectual trait Intellectual Perseverance (June 1996) in Valuable Intellectual Virtues Retrieved from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/valuable-intellectual-traits/528 

Having a consciousness of the need to use intellectual insights and truths in spite of difficulties, obstacles, and frustrations; firm adherence to rational principles despite the irrational opposition of others; a sense of the need to struggle with confusion and unsettled questions over an extended period of time to achieve deeper understanding or insight.

In other words, having the mental toughness to continue to search for understanding and learning through the trials and tribulations one is sure to face in an endeavor of this magnitude. Pressing on to the goal, realizing that when I stretch and occasionally hurt I am doing real learning, which is the meaning of the definition. Like athletes embracing muscle pain as a sign of a good workout, I should learn to appreciate moments of intellectual struggle and seek them out. The marathon begins!

An example of intellectual perseverance would be the story of Galileo Galilei. As you’ll recall, Galileo was convinced that his studies proved that the Earth was not the center of the universe. He was sent before the Roman Inquisition in 1632 and his ideas were declared heresy. He continued his works while under house arrest and is known as the father of modern physics. He faced far greater threats and stresses than a Master’s student will, but he’s an excellent example of ‘firm adherence to rational principles despite the irrational opposition of others.’

Intellectual perseverance could be envisioned by comparing it to the remodeling and expanding a house. I will approach the courses with a foundation and a framework made of previous experiences and education. As I progress through each course, I will have some anchor points to build on. However, there will likely be many situations where I need to create new ideas and build upon them. The construction of those new thoughts will often make me stretch to the point of being uncomfortable. There will be occasions where I am faced with the fact that my earlier constructs may have been erroneous or altogether wrong. Actual pain could be felt from the finding that something I held as a truth was in fact incorrect; the ‘tearing down of long used frameworks’, as it were. Through all of those circumstances, the need to press on through to get to the answers must pervade. Outside forces, in the form of my family, job, and overarching responsibilities could form obstacles to my build plan. Uncertainty and lapses of confidence are certain to creep in occasionally and give me pause. Through it all, I must keep the plan of what this impressive new home is going to be at graduation. The finish needs to be the focus.

I would add that when I earn my Master’s and graduate, the house will still need maintenance and even further additions and remodels.

A doctorate?

To be continued…