And don’t forget to take the accompanying quiz at the end of the lesson.
Me: Using structured Methodologies to help her decide
Here’s how Komal could employ a structured methodology to help her decide between the six options confronting her.
She would take three charts (one chart for every two options) and list the six alternatives at the top of each half of a chart. She would then proceed to capture the points below under each.
Note: in the interest of keeping this lesson short, we are going to use only one of the options for illustration purposes. In this case, we are using “train Rajiv to give feedback” as the option under consideration.
Step 1: List the data that you have verified under each option.
For the alternatives identified, namely “train Rajiv on how to give feedback” the verified data is ‘80% of the people like his honesty, but not the phrasing of his feedback’. This is captured on the chart under the option under consideration.
She would do this for all options.
Step 2: Add the positives of choosing the option
In Komal’s case, and for the alternatives identified namely “train Rajiv on how to give feedback’ the positives could be:
• We will retain a talented resource
• The training will help him work better in teams (and prevent team members being rubbed the wrong way)
• His honesty will ensure that costly mistakes are avoided.
Step 3: Add the negatives of choosing the option
In Komal’s case, the negative for the alternative identified, could be:
• Kirti could feel ignored. She could lose heart.
Step 4: Identify workarounds or means of mitigating the negatives
In Komal’s case, the workaround could be:
• Have a one-one meeting with Kirti
• Thank her for the candour and courage to bring up such issues
• Present data gathered/ verified on Rajiv
• Share the workarounds identified to deal with the issue
• Counsel her about her fears, if any
• Share that you value such honesty from her
Step 5: Identify how you feel about each decision
In Komal’s case, perhaps the right choice is to fire Rajiv, but she is good friends with him. She needs to be cognizant of these emotions, as well as how she will deal with her emotions, prior to getting into the discussion with Rajiv
Step 6: Study the charts and arrive at the decision
Now that Komal has captured all possible alternatives or options and information under each, she must now study the notes (on the chart papers in front of her), and choose the strongest option or alternative confronting her.
Considering she has used the FAMe model to:
1. fact check the assumptions she is working with, including verifying the data,
2. generate multiple alternatives to choose between
3. employ a structure methodology to evaluate each option…
… the decision she will make will be far sounder than if she hadn’t.
In Conclusion
In this lesson, we’ve tried to illustrate how the FAMe model can be used to make informed decisions.
