‘A Great Big Clump of Talent’
“I’ve got thirty-six expressions –
sweet as pie to tough as leather, and that’s six expressions more than all
them, ah, Barrymores put together”, the opening lyrics to “I’m the Greatest
Star”, performed by Barbra Streisand in the film, Funny Girl,
aptly define the range of words used to describe my decision-making style
(Newkookoori, 2010). The array of Fanny Brice’s talents, reverberated with each
note passing from Streisand’s vocals, mirrors the use of relational algorithms,
explained by Whetten and Cameron (2011), and presented by Worldwide Online
(2012). The idea of matching an opposite to a known descriptor not only allows
for other opposites to be identified; it further helps to combat the concept of
constancy, taking the same approach to problem-solving and decision-making, a
method which can produce satisfactory as opposed to optimal answer (Swinton,
2005; Whetten & Cameron, 2011). Funny
Girl is one of my favorite movies. Although it never dawned on me that I
would one day use the film to demonstrate my decision-making style, I am happy
to have this source as a frame of reference from which to present my approach.
Rebecca Haddock, career counselor
with San Mateo Community College, explains many decisions, for routine, everyday
problems, are made almost automatically (Worldwide, 2012b). Just as Whetten and
Cameron (2011) note, “seldom does an hour go by without an individual’s being
faced with the need to solve some kind of problem” (p. 174), the automatic choices,
like which shoes with which wardrobe, or what word processing program should be
used, are ones that require little time, cause minimal stress, and generally
follow an almost natural practice, such as wearing tennis shoes with jeans
(Worldwide, 2012B). As Haddock continues, the question of how to make a
determination for unstructured problems, non-routine and non-automatic, is
considered (Worldwide 2012b). It is within this context, that of evaluating
more complex problems, that Whetten and Cameron (2011) caution against settling
for a “satisfactory solution instead of the optimal or ideal solution” (p.
174). Likewise, the series of questions presented by Carlos Watson,
entrepreneur and former attorney, help explain what I like to call, the ‘if P;
then Q’ impact of making a decision (Worldwide, 2012b). If I choose this, what
is the impact? Do I need to give up anything? Will I miss out on other
opportunities? The process of considering “trade-offs” not only helps to
increase our own self-awareness, for me, considering the ‘if P; then Q’ affect,
helps me to slow down and consider other alternatives (Worldwide, 2012b). Self-awareness
also assists with the decision-making process.
Although I would not use words such
as miffed, divine, or greatest to describe my style, Streisand’s declarations
of natural, talented, and gifted could be applied (Newkookoori, 2010). In the exercise,
presented by Worldwide
Online (2012a) and explained by Haddock, viewers are invited to choose from
a series of adjectives in order to form a better understanding of how one
reaches a decision and how that method impacts the overall process. My list
includes: cautious, logical, self-motivated, rational, active, and quiet
(Worldwide, 2012a). Being cautious allows me to make sure I am not just using
words to consider a problem (Whetten & Cameron, 2011). Additionally, it
helps me avoid making snap judgments about data. Logical, rational, active, and
quiet allow my right and left brain to work together (Whetten & Cameron,
2011). I am able to gather data, define problems, generate other options, and
examine all of my information (Whetten & Cameron, 2011). Being quiet allows
me to essentially move problems to my brain’s backburners whereby unconscious actions
look at unrelated notions while pursuing a solution (Whetten & Cameron,
2011). Many times I have found solutions and made decisions while cooking
dinner. I enjoy finding similarities with differences. The second part of
Haddock’s exercise offers that very opportunity; a challenge that allows me to
unlock my inner creative style (Worldwide, 2012a).
After choosing words that describe
my decision-making method, I then had to write down the opposites (Worldwide,
2012a). As outlined by Swinton (2005), the difference between “night and day”
can lead to an increase in creative problem-solving and “keeping analytical
thinking in check”. The opposites of my styles are: rash, foolish, stopped,
unsystematic, lazy, and loud. My natural tendency, in reacting to these
descriptors, would be to surmise making a decision in a rash, foolish, lazy,
loud, and unsystematic manner would not lead to either a satisfactory or
optimal solution; but, if Fanny Brice taught me anything; sometimes doing the
exact opposite and stepping outside of one’s comfort zone can lead to the most
amazing decisions.
Rather than take the usual route of
talking to the promoters of the show yet again, Brice breaks into song and even
though she fails to capture their attention; she ultimately prevails as the
star of the show, with more than just a “clump of talent” (Newkookoori, 2010).
For me, the benefits of making decisions in a way that is opposite of the
normal route include expanding creativity by testing new approaches,
experiencing outcomes not imagined, and learning from decisions that proved to
be mistakes. My husband will easily say I am a planner. I recognize this, too.
For the most part, planning serves me well and many times my decision-making
style enhances planning; however, throwing caution to the wind can have
unexpected and welcomed results. Simply picking up and taking off for the
weekend is something my husband loves to do; but, for a planner, spontaneity
goes against my very fiber of decision-making. My husband will also tell you
some of our most memorable moments are the result of rash, unsystematic, and
unreserved decisions. In many respects, my husband is my opposite and he has
been able to help me realize that reaching for an optimal solution far exceeds
simply settling for satisfactory solutions.
References
Newkookoori.
(2010, June 19). I’m the Greatest Star. [Video file]. Retrieved from
Swinton, L.
(2005, May 13). 3 Creative Brainstorming Activities, Games and Exercises For
Effective Group Problem Solving. mftrou.com. Retrieved from http://www.mftrou.com/creative-brainstorming-activities.html
Whetten, D.A.
& Cameron, K.S. (2011). Developing
Management Skills. (8th ed.). Upper
Saddle, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.
Worldwide
Online. (2012a, April 2). Exercise: Decision-Making Styles . [Video file].
Films
On Demand. Retrieved from http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/play/7A2UTV
Worldwide
Online. (2012b, April 2). Routine and Complex Decision-Making. [Video file].
Films
On Demand. Retrieved from http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/play/7A2UTV
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