In this video, Prof. Baba
Shiv of Stanford University talks about the importance of emotion in
decision-making. After watching this video, reflect on two situations; one, in
which you were extremely confident of the outcome and what your attitude was
towards the subject; and second, a situation in which you would less confident
or not so confident and how you felt about the situation. Based on this
module's readings and this video write a reflection blog detailing the
situations above and describing the role emotion plays in decision-making.
Identify three emotional reactions for each scenario.
Professor Shiv discussed
military leaders and displaying confidence of their decision making process and
the ramification of decision confidence vs. a lack of confidence that is
displayed toward other leaders and those charged with caring out the orders
from that leader.
An example of an extremely
confident scenario was while assigned to the C-17 program as the Lead
Technician and Flight Mechanic. I among other fellow USAF aircraft mechanics
would fly with our aircraft as a means of keeping it services, repaired and
mission ready. The majority of us possessed our FAA and FCC licensure and
coupled with our rank, stature and experience, emerged as service members with
the decision confidence to apply our special skills globally and in all
environments. This was a confidence builder for the operations side of the
house, as well as units globally who lacked the confidence to accept the
aircraft because of a lack of maintainability training and experience.
We as Flight Mechanics
instilled the confidence in other units with the same airframe to develop a
Flight Mechanic program based upon our recommendations and observation we
experienced and were persuasive in creating a cadre of personnel ready, willing
and able to answer the call to duty.
Based upon my military
career, I can attest to a leader who is not confident in their decision
confidence will not be persuasive toward those under their command.
Once while deployed to an
AOR (Area of Responsibility) a junior maintenance officer was quite disturbed because
of a rash of aircraft malfunctions that were inhibiting the ability to complete
our mission. I as the SNCO (Senior Non Commissioned Officer) was in charge of
getting the aircraft repaired and mission ready. The young officer made it his
quest to berate the mechanics working double shifts to repair a multitude of
malfunctions.
I discussed his lack of
confidence in my mechanics to fix the aircraft as his lack of field experience,
and tactfully discussed the need for his powers of persuasion that he had
indirectly displayed toward a very capable and dedicated cadre of airmen was
out of check and balance.
I am a complete believer
that leadership is something we display to our subordinates and superiors. As
experienced and time tested SNCO’s it was our duty to get the work completed
and instill confidence (and the occasional corrective action) in our young
officer corps, so they may go on to be great leaders, followers with decision
confidence.
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