For this week's blog, we were asked to watch a video titled
"The Art of Choosing" which is a speech given by Dr. Sheena Iyengar.
(Click here to view the video.) This is a video on the website TED.com which
has hundreds of "TED Talks". These videos all seem to be
inspirational or motivating for teams and can be used in a workshop setting. I
found this pretty ironic because I had never heard of the TED Talks before this
week but this is actually my third time this week seeing one. We have a new
battalion commander and he seems to love these videos so that that was my first
introduction to them and then my pastor sent an e-mail with a link to one and
now I viewed this one for class.
The video today was all about choices that we have to make.
The orator, Dr. Iyengar, talks about her travels around the world and
interactions with people from other cultures when dealing with choices. It is
very interesting how different people view choices. For example, she is talking
about a trip to Eastern Europe and offering a choice of sodas to interviewees.
Though there are seven sodas from which to choose, they only view it as having
one choice – soda or soda. She then was talking about some of the cultures that
never had the option of choice (former Communist countries) and then choice was
forced on them and they didn’t quite know how to adapt.
In the video, Dr. Iyengar points out three main assumptions.
1.
Everybody wants to make their own choices.
2.
Having more options leads to better choices.
3.
You should never say no to having a choice.
For the most part, I think that I agree with these assumptions
but a lot of that is, as I previously pointed out, cultural. The world is a “shrinking”
place and cultures are growing closer and closer together. However, one
assumption that I will make is that we will continue to operate in a primarily
capitalist society where we do have choices. It is in this society where we,
the students of this class, will continue to strive to be leaders. But
sometimes as leaders, we are the ones that are equipped to make the wise choices
for those in our organizations. This is something that was really sticking out
to me as I watched this video. I am an Army recruiter. I know that enlisting in
the Army is the best choice for a lot of the young men and women that interact
with me daily. When I walk into the bodega around my corner or ride the subway,
I see these young adults that want to make their own choices to feel validated
so talking to me can’t be forced on them. I view interacting with them as a
leadership role so how can I convince them to come talk to me? The key to that
is to make it feel like it is their idea. Now I am not saying that I know what
is best for them to do with their lives but I know that they need something
that they lose nothing by coming to talk to me. If they feel like it was their
idea to come and see me, I can get them in the office every time. But that is
the key. It has to be their choice. I think that may be something for leaders
at all levels in any organization to bear in mind. Even if we, as the leaders,
have the vision and know the right steps, we have to let those that we are
leading decide for themselves to take those steps. Our role is to guide them to
make that decision on their own.
The assumption that having more options leads to better
choices is true to an extent I believe. However, there is a point where too
many choices can become overwhelming and counterproductive. A perfect example
of that is right here at home for me. I live in Manhattan. A decision as simple
as what to have for dinner can become overwhelming. There are literally hundreds
are food choices within walking distance of my apartment. So why are there
times when I can’t figure out what I want? Because it is overwhelming. From a
leadership standpoint, this is something else that we have to keep in mind.
Having options is good. Having too many options overwhelms the organization. It
ties up resources. Sometimes less is better.
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