A500.4.3.RB- Ballet Slippers or Adorable?

Sheena Iyengar studies choices, how we make them and what makes us think we are good at it. She gave a presentation at the TEDGlobal conference on "The Art of Choosing" that raised some assumptions worth reflecting upon. Her research highlighted upon the ideas that we as Americans believe that we should make our own choices, the more options we have the better our choices will be and that we should never say no to choice.  I found these ideas to be eye opening on a personal level, something I have never considered up until listening to her speak on choices. I think there is an importance to consider how these assumptions factor into the possible effects within the realm of leadership, too. I have never consciously realized that not everyone gets to make decisions and choices the way I do in my personal life, in my town, in my state, in my country or in the world. If I placed myself at one end, representing the smallest point and the world at the other, representing the largest and examined the spectrum in context, I see that the further away I am removed from myself the more different choice can be for an individual. I lost sight of the freedoms that I have as an American, in particular, not to mention other factors like the time period in which I was raised and currently live.

The first concept is that we should make our own choices. More specifically, Iyengar (2010) explains that we feel that if a choice affects you, you should be the one to make the decision, as it is the only way to ensure for interests or preferences to be fully accounted for. For me personally, I automatically agreed upon hearing this, thinking: “Well of course I should make my own choices, no one else is as equipped to decide for me as I am.” Apparently this is a major sticking point with me. If I had my way, I would want to be consulted with for every option that touched my life including the new stoplight on the street that I live. When I realize this is how I feel, I see how impractical this can be. I am not an expert on road engineering, nor can I account for others that also use the same street. I am fiercely protective on choosing for myself and the sense of independence and control it allows me to feel. Though I am more inflexible in regards to decision making in my home life, the impact it can have in my work life or leadership context has not escaped my attention. If a group of people representing an organization gathered together and only chose in regards to pleasing themselves, that would wreck havoc in terms of inefficiency and create chaos, potentially. It is important to understand the underlying mission statement and work being carried out; then using choice to best compliment those goals. A good leader can take into account varying human factors and guide choices that will be in line with what is intended to be accomplished.

The second assumption that Sheena Iyengar chronicles is that the more choices you have, the more likely you are to make the better choice. I find this fundamentally flawed and take issue with this statement. I love choices. I am probably a terrible decision maker when presented with too many choices. For example, when I moved into a house that I no longer rented and became able to decorate in any manner that would be pleasing to me, either temporary or permanent, I flat out rejoiced boastfully that I was going to paint the walls and not have to look at another of my adopted mother’s variation of beige paint colored walls. In line with the first assumption that since I have to see these walls daily, I am the best person to pick the color; however, the second assumption of having all the colors one could chemically dream up to choose from has left me at a loss. Three years into living in my home, every single wall is still regular, plain white. I have had a myriad of options taped onto my wall and I just cannot commit. The same could be said for my diet. I love soda and know that visibly it is not doing me any favors. If given every option possible, instead of selecting the healthier water or green tea, I would go for soda every time. In my opinion the better choice is being made, the better choice for flavor, that is, not health. My impulsivity, even with having the ability to understand the detriments of my actions shows how this is not necessarily a positive option for people as individuals or in a collective. It is easy to see poor decision making all around with defaults on home loans, legal sentences for breaking laws and health issues spanning from fast food to illegal substances.

Something else to consider within this same arena is that even if you are able curb those whims, how can you make the best decision when you are flooded with so many products, biased reviews and advertising that can be misleading or not fully informative? I attempted to procure a home computer prior to beginning my Master of Science in Leadership program and was overwhelmed and inundated with all of the choices, though my intentions were purely to pick the best item for the best value. Iyengar (2010) does point out that “unlimited choices seem more attractive in theory than in practice.” In my opinion, that if too many options are problematic on an individual level then it would be equally daunting in an amplified context of the affects on a group of people. I think too many options on how a group would want to move forward on a project, for example could cause problems. It does not seem necessary or effective to vote on fifty choices, opposed to perhaps, three solid, well-founded choices narrowed down by those in a leadership role.

Lastly, you should never say no to choice. Iyenagar (2010) makes it clear that she feels that ‘not saying no to choice’ seems to be the most problematic of the assumptions. While I feel that I understand the line of thinking in which this was derived, likely closely tied to the first assumption that you should make your own choices, it gives way to thinking that can be clouded with logical fallacies. Instead of feeling forced to make a choice between limited options, or even too many, it is okay to decline from deciding at all. It also may be in your best interest to allow someone more qualified on the issue to inform you on the best option and then trust in their counsel. For example, it could be wise to submit to a doctor or a lawyer’s opinions.  I think it is dangerous for someone to feel trapped in making choices. I think this is very important to keep in mind when you working within a team environment. I think it sets the individual and team up for potential fallibility of feeling that there is urgency to make a decision alone. For me, I think earlier on in my career I felt like I was not attending to my job duties if I were tasked with making a decision and  didn’t make one on my own. I would not have seen declining from choice as a viable avenue. If presented with two bad options, I would pick the lesser of the two evils, which does not mean you make the correct choice of the two. It is important to remember to impress upon the culture of a group that it is okay to look for better options, you do not need to feel like you have to take the first option that comes along and that it is okay to discuss the options together. Two heads are better than one.

I was truly delighted to be able to watch another great TED presentation and found Sheena Iyengar inspiring and captivating. I encourage anyone interested to view her presentation, which can be located by following the information below found in my reference section. On a side note, the title of the presentation is Ballet Slippers or Adorable and references a decision on choosing a light shade of nail polish. Being the nail polish enthusiast that I am and a naturally curious mind I guessed that it these were Essie brand colors and was correct. I had to see for myself their similarity and what my preference would be so I went to the store to compare them for fun. In my opinion I prefer Ballet Slippers because it is a true light pink, whereas Adorable (actually Adore-a-ball) is more of a neutral. Fun fact, which is not an Appeal to Authority, it has been said that Queen Elizabeth II has worn Ballet Slippers since 1989.

Reference:  Iyengar, S. (2010) The art of choosing. TEDGlobal.
retrieved from: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/sheena_iyengar_on_the_art_of_choosing.html