It is really hard for me to choose one way in which I acted during the decision making exercise we had in class. I think that as we reached our deadline my interaction became less active and I became more pessimistic. At first, when we were just introduced to the assignment by the professor I was very aggressive, I tried to speak my words and convince the whole class that my ideas are the right ones and that they should listen to me. However, when the first "manager" took initiative and approached the whole class I found it comforting and my reaction was that the best way is to collaborate. At first it was very organized, each person spoke his mind and we brainstormed alternatives, which seem to be the right path. Then something happened that changed my behavior to the worst, the manage lost control of the class so there were more and more people who stood up and tryed to "help", which only created more confusion. at that point my behavior became "avoidance" i did not care anymore. It seemed as if we totally lost control and that there is no chance we will ever come to a decision. So I didn't say anything and just talked to my neighbor who was accommodating the class since he received a high grade and he didn't care so much about the consequences of the discussion. Five minutes were left to the end of the exercise and we haven't spoke about the second test. At that point I started to get frustrated and anxious but there was nothing I could so, it already escalated to a much bigger problem.
I think that the conclusion that I need to draw from this exercise is that if I think that I could of been a better manager then anyone else then I should off taken the initiative (like the first manager) and "control" the class.
Your blog could help me realized how people behave differently in stressful situations. I was not acting on the beginning but when the decision was about to make, I was more active.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you when you said that it only created more confusion when there were more and more people coming up front and trying to "help". I felt frustrated, almost to the point annoyed because I think that having too many people up front just aggrevated the situation and made it worse. I'm just thankful that despite of all the chaos, the class was able to reach a consensus.
ReplyDeleteI agree that having too many leaders in front of the classroom was really frustrating. However, even though there were chaos, uncertainty, withdrawals and raising voices in the decision making process we did a great job and, I think that everybody was satisfied and happy with our solution.
ReplyDeleteI am also guilty of criticizing situations, often when I cannot totally impose my will. Humility, being able to accept the good and bad, is a character asset that we should constantly be in search of. Great Blog!
ReplyDeleteThis exercise was extremely frustrating, i was one of the people who took the accommodation position in the group. During the beginning of the class i also had some aggressiveness in me. I also raised my hand to say something. After the curve was applied my services were no longer needed, and it was just too chaotic for me.
ReplyDeletei think that its supper interesting that you talked about the way you changed positions with each new happening in the class. i agree i felt like the more poeple that went upi there the worst it got and the more withdrawn i became. i figured that they were all going to make a decision no matter what and i would vote for it becasue i didnt want to be that one person who was going to ruin the whole thing.
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