A500.4.3.RB_MaceRoyce
Choice is a beautiful thing. It's a freedom that Americans relish and creates a great foundation for all who have an opportunity to practice it. Unfortunately, choices can be a double-edged sword. While choice can promote a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle, there are choices that can negatively affect our lives and the lives of others. Too few choices can suppress individualism and freedoms while too many choices can potentially suppress positive outcomes as a result of those choices.
For example, drinking alcohol for many is a legal choice that allows an individual to relax, mix it up with friends, and essentially "let loose". It allows us to "come out of our shell" and suppress the stresses of life in a responsible and legal way (theoretically). Conversely, the choice to let alcohol perform these functions can produce negative outcomes for ourselves and others. As alcohol potentially inhibits our ability to make rational and responsible decisions, we may make subsequent choices that can do harm to ourselves or others.
Alcohol can open up a potential "can of worms" where further choices can be made under a cloud of inhibited judgment. This is where I would disagree with Ms. Iyengar. Yes, more options can lead to better choices, but it depends on the options that lead to those choices. Drinking is an option, but one that must take responsibility into account. Responsibility is directly related to options and choices. As they say, "too much of anything can be a good or bad thing". Sound and ethical responsibility must be practiced to make the right choices.
With choice comes great responsibility; especially as leaders. If we are not responsible with our choices, those choices can undoubtedly affect our lives and the lives of others negatively. In addition to responsibility is the role that critical thinking plays in making sound and responsible decisions. We must think about how the choice will play out and what affects it will have in our lives. Will a particular option presented to me potentially render better choices? We must take into account all the potential outcomes to responsibly approach the options that we consider. Approach each and every option/choice with the phrase, "Is what is always good for the goose also good for the gander?" Great leaders hold onto this mantra and think about the organization as a whole.
In the end, choices are a natural part of growing and living life. Society many times influences our options and choices, but we must be responsible in choosing which route to take. We will inevitably make poor choices, but what we do after these poor choices is key. Is it a the leader that makes a poor choice, learns from it, holds themselves accountable for the poor choice, and moves forward without making the poor choice again. Simply agreeing with Ms. Iyengar would be too easy as Americans love their choices, but luckily American society has systematically ensured that some choices (particularly negative choices) carry potential consequences. We always have a choice, but responsibility and ethics will determine the outcome of the choice and how they affect our lives and the lives of others. Choice requires that we be responsible to ourselves, society, and our fellow man.
For example, drinking alcohol for many is a legal choice that allows an individual to relax, mix it up with friends, and essentially "let loose". It allows us to "come out of our shell" and suppress the stresses of life in a responsible and legal way (theoretically). Conversely, the choice to let alcohol perform these functions can produce negative outcomes for ourselves and others. As alcohol potentially inhibits our ability to make rational and responsible decisions, we may make subsequent choices that can do harm to ourselves or others.
Alcohol can open up a potential "can of worms" where further choices can be made under a cloud of inhibited judgment. This is where I would disagree with Ms. Iyengar. Yes, more options can lead to better choices, but it depends on the options that lead to those choices. Drinking is an option, but one that must take responsibility into account. Responsibility is directly related to options and choices. As they say, "too much of anything can be a good or bad thing". Sound and ethical responsibility must be practiced to make the right choices.
With choice comes great responsibility; especially as leaders. If we are not responsible with our choices, those choices can undoubtedly affect our lives and the lives of others negatively. In addition to responsibility is the role that critical thinking plays in making sound and responsible decisions. We must think about how the choice will play out and what affects it will have in our lives. Will a particular option presented to me potentially render better choices? We must take into account all the potential outcomes to responsibly approach the options that we consider. Approach each and every option/choice with the phrase, "Is what is always good for the goose also good for the gander?" Great leaders hold onto this mantra and think about the organization as a whole.
In the end, choices are a natural part of growing and living life. Society many times influences our options and choices, but we must be responsible in choosing which route to take. We will inevitably make poor choices, but what we do after these poor choices is key. Is it a the leader that makes a poor choice, learns from it, holds themselves accountable for the poor choice, and moves forward without making the poor choice again. Simply agreeing with Ms. Iyengar would be too easy as Americans love their choices, but luckily American society has systematically ensured that some choices (particularly negative choices) carry potential consequences. We always have a choice, but responsibility and ethics will determine the outcome of the choice and how they affect our lives and the lives of others. Choice requires that we be responsible to ourselves, society, and our fellow man.
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