Customer Reviews

Creative Decision Making: Using Positive Uncertainty (50-Minute Series)

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Several years ago, I was laid off from my job and very perplexed about what direction to take. Someone suggested I read Creative Decision Making Using Positive Uncertainty, an extremely thought provoking book which proved to be a guiding framework that helped me make some critical career decisions. While I initially felt handicapped by the uncertainty in my life, the realistic anecdotes and open ended questions reframed the uncertainty into active anticipation. They prompted me to focus on the many positive outcomes and opportunities the future might hold and to envision new career choices with the glass half full instead of half empty. With this broadened perspective, I ended up finding a job that I had never even imagined possible.

This rationale and intuitive approach to decision making has been an enormously supportive resource on several occasions. Most recently, I recommended the book to my husband while he contemplates a significant career shift in a time of major life change with a new baby in our family. As we both analyze the impact a job change will have on our personal lives, we are using Positive Uncertainty to help identify options, assess risks and ultimately, make the best decision.

As a career coach working in an internal career development center of a large corporation, I deal with a diverse cross section of the employee population. A common thread, however, seems to be uncertainty about career goals, ranging from questions regarding skill development to more complex issues on structuring a radical career change. Of the many resources I utilize, Creative Decision Making Using Positive Uncertainty stands out as one of the most helpful in clarifying issues and illuminating options. Without exception, everyone who has used the creative processes in this book has praised its effectiveness in facilitating decision making and changing the fear of risk into the pursuit of opportunity. It is a welcome and valuable addition to our career center library.

I am nearing the end of a major life transition. During this time I have used the principles of positive uncertainty to guide my thoughts, plans, and reactions to change. My life changes involved my significant other's transition from medical school to residency, the uncertainty of where we would be living, my job situation (as our main provider), and what the new schedule of resident life would mean for my husband and me. I utilized the four parts of knowledge to help de-mystify this new phase. Instead of worrying about what might "happen" to us, I was able to determine our desirable outcomes and proactively approach the time with a realistic understanding of the future. Creative Decision Making Using Positive Uncertainty has also reminded me that I am in control of my own reality and by thinking through the unknown in a planful manner, I can determine my own behaviors and attitude as I walk into times of change.

Traditional decision making theory is so inadequate that I was open to reading this book. I went to the authors' web site [..]and, after reading their Overview, I came away fearing the book would be a hodge-podge of gobble-de-gook. Here's a sample from the web site:

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- The information you have is not what you want
- The information you want is not what you need
- The information you need is not available

Being aware and wary about what you know helps you to assess what is known and appreciate what is unknown. The hallmark of this principle is to be open-minded. That means to:

- Look for "mis-information," missing information and out-of-date information
- Use both fact and intuition when deciding
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Uhmm, OK, I guess. The reality is that in many life decisions, you don't have any information, or the information is simply wrong.

For example, several years ago I accepted a job from a company that the stock market analysts said was in A-1 shape. Six months later, I was laid-off along with half my department.

Right now, I'm looking for a new job. I'm overwhelmed with options, and that's paralyzing because I'm not sure where to focus my efforts.

The thing that's helped me the most is my experience fishing. For example, when I first hit a lake there are acres of water to cover, there is little information available (and what is available is suspect), one spot looks the same as another, and I have only so much time and energy. So what do to do?

Prepare in advance by sharpening hooks and putting on fresh line. Cover a lot a water to expose the bait to as many fish as possible. If a hit doesn't come fairly quickly, change baits or approach. Don't get stuck doing the same thing over and over. Keep this up until a fish strikes. Each strike will teach something -- where the fish are, what they like, how to change your tackle or approach, etc. Then, focus on what was successful until you either get a fish in the boat, or you're ready to move on and start experimenting again. Above all, maintain a positive, confident attitude, and learn from your mistakes.

There you have it. Since the last part is the most difficult, I suggest you save your money for a really good book entitled, Positivity. It's clearly written, and it covers the new science of positive psychology. It helped me improve my attitude tremendously. Another good one is entitled Learned Optimism. So start reading, get happy, and get going!

By the way, I ultimately decided to buy Creative Decision Making -- bad move! But hey, mistakes are part of learning, so I'm happy this book didn't cost more than it did!