I have always
believed that making your own choices is best. When you make a decision
for yourself then it becomes personal and more meaningful. Sometimes when
decisions are made based on a desire to please others there is no internal
connection to the choice. This seems to be the Anglo-American way of thinking
according to Iyengar's research that found they “did two and a half times more
anagrams when they got to choose them, as compared to when it was chosen for
them" (TEDTalks 5:01). Do theses results translate into the prospect of
raising thinkers who can make choices for themselves when given a chance?
Maybe. Sometimes making the right decision can be difficult and we end up
asking other people for help which cannot always turn out well. Other
people have their own opinions, beliefs and experiences that can be different
from our own. While asking for help from others when making a decision
can be helpful, it’s best to relay on your own instinct and feelings.
With that being
said, when making a decision about something that will affect others it may be
beneficial to have the opinions of those involved. A leader makes
decisions everyday that effects the team, some are made on their own, some with
the input of others. I don't necessarily feel that if a leader makes a
decision on their own that it is selfish decision. There is a distinction
between making a decision alone and making a self centered decision. If a
leader has a good reading of their teams likes, dislikes and interests then
when offered choices they should be able to make a decision that will best
serve the team. This is one of the qualities that make someone a good
leader. Another quality that makes a leader great is the ability to
realize they need help and asking for it. If the choices are too many or
there is no clear correct choice then asking for help from the team is
a good way to assure everyone gets at least a chance to share their
thoughts.
While having a
variety of choices available to you is a good thing, too many can become
overwhelming. Looking around at the options in front of you and viewing a
sea of colors and textures can be both beautiful and confusing. While I
believe having choices allows for better decision-making, too many can lead
distraction. Its best to narrow down the choices according to certain
criteria into more manageable pieces.
Not having a choice can feel horrible and trapped. We all like to feel we have some sort of
control over things in our lives, not having choices can feel like you have no
control.
“Ballet slippers
or adorable” just goes to show how we are influenced by words, among other
things. The two shades were so close in
color that half of the women couldn’t tell them apart. Of the half that could they picked “adorable”
with no label on the bottles and “ballet slippers” with the label. So what is it about the words “ballet
slippers” that draws people in? Persuasions
are all around us, product names that have a personal connection to us,
favorite colors and smells, and even visuals designed to draw us in. We must learn to see beyond these to make the
best decisions. We joke that my daughter
would buy anything if it were pink. She is
hypnotized by the color, to the point of obsession at times.
Reference:
TEDTalks:
Sheena Iyengar--The Art of Choosing [Motion picture]. (2010). TED.
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