CHOICE-CREATING
Choice-creating is the quality of being and thinking that often happens after a crisis, when people drop their roles, express their true feelings, and join with others to creatively seek what’s best for all. “Choice-creating” is a heartfelt, creative quality of thinking where non-linear “shifts” and breakthroughs are natural. It is an energy-based process where the “real” issues are identified and solved. It’s a process that celebrates individual uniqueness, yet and where the unanimous conclusions are the natural result. When facing “impossible to solve” problems or for building trust or for transforming organizations, choice-creating is the desired quality of thinking.
In this state of being…
- Results are win/win – better than anyone thought possible.
- Each person feels brilliant and involved, knows what to do, and is committed to helping.
- Individual capabilities, enthusiasm, and empowerment are raised.
- The group builds trust, the spirit of community, a feeling of “We.”
Contrast choice-creating to decision-making:
| Decision-making | Choice-creating |
| Where the best option is sought from a pre-set number of options | Where all join to continually create a better result |
| A rational process – weighing and selecting | A creative process with insights, changes of heart, and other shifts |
| Emotions are suppressed – people try to maintain a “professional” demeanor | Emotions leverage shifts, e.g. a passion for ideas |
| Works for well-defined issues that are possible to solve | Works for whatever issues people care about, including those that are unclear or seemingly impossible |
| Breaks BIG issues into smaller ones | Can make issues bigger or smaller – but, even when they get bigger, people feel more empowered |
| Uses objectives, plans, and guidelines to keep control of the process | Assure safety and creativity and the process is self-controlling |
| Can sense or measure progress | It’s difficult to sense progress because people are changing too |
| Often breaks down into rational-seeming arguments, endless data analysis, going in circles, frustration, or lack of authenticity | May seem chaotic at times, but yields faster and better results, plus people grow into a team or community |
Criteria… How do we recognize Choice-creating?
In a meeting, people are addressing the really important issues and each person is:
- Authentic… there are no roles or hidden agendas
- Open-minded… people are interested in different ideas
- Open-hearted… feelings and attitudes grow
- Learning… each person gains in capability
- Engaged… everyone is involved and wants to be a part
- Efficient… decisions are reached with less time and effort
- Creative… breakthroughs are normal
- Respectful… each person and his/her uniqueness are appreciated
Click here to see examples of breakthroughs from Choice-creating.
A Dynamic Facilitator assures Choice-creating...
The dynamic facilitator orients to choice-creating vs. decision-making. S/he does this by allowing group energy instead of extrinsic factors like agendas, guidelines, or objectives, to manage the process. S/he uses four charts – Solutions, Problem Statements, Concerns, and Data – to help people be fully heard. No one is judged, each comment is valued, and the group starts thinking creatively together. Being fully heard and orienting toward choice-creating brings out people’s natural ability to seek shared outcomes that will take everyone’s views into account.
