Sunday, December 7, 2014

A632.7.4.RB - Collaborative Decision-Making

Our decisions, whether small or big, have a huge affect on our environment and the people who live and work around us.  When we make decisions, it’s important to consider and ask yourself questions about everyone involved in the situation.  This was a common problem at my old job.  The communication was very poor, so whenever we had collaborative projects, information was always skewed or distorted, making the process a lot more difficult.  In general, we are faced with decisions on a daily basis that affect the way our lives play out.

One conflict/decision I have been recently faced with involves leaving my old job with no real back up plan in the hopes to find something better suited for my family and I.  I quit my job back in June and moved across the country with no real plan.  My fiancé and I had savings to last us for a year; however, it was a scary decision we were faced with.  Neither of us were happy where we were living and could not see ourselves living there forever.  There were no opportunities for him, and nothing beyond the one job I had there.  The decision seemed easy when faced with the facts of our stories, but before we voiced our feelings and opinions openly, we struggled with the decision.  I found that the aspect of resolution that involves listening and telling your story to be a really impactful step for me when faced with conflict.  The conflict I was faced with was more of an internal/personal conflict, as opposed to a team conflict, but it affected my coworkers, my family, my friends, and my relationships.  Making sure to speak with everyone who is involved both immediate and from a distance is important, as it helps you see a bigger, clearer picture overall.


This learning experience has really strengthened my ability to make decisions.  Prior to this experience, I struggled with conflict and often tried my best to avoid it.  But like diving off a diving board for a first time, it can be scary, but once you do it get’s a lot easier.  3 ways the experience can help me in the future include listening to my inner voice, listening to the full stories of others and being able to share my own story, and asking/sharing questions with others to get a clearer picture.

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