Decisions – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

I love the moment when the pilot taxis out to the runway and then holds the plane steady for that given moment when he gives the jet all it’s got. As you are pushed back in your seat by the thrust of these hugely powerful jet engines it is purely exhilarating. In minutes we will be at 35,000 feet cruising at 800kms per hour in a machine that weighs 40 plus tonnes. It is truly extraordinary.

You land at your destination, grab a hire a car, bring up Google Maps on your smart phone and it directs you to your destination. Not only visual, but she actually tells you when to turn, which lane to be in and how far before you need to make your next move – arriving at your destination without fuss. That’s also extraordinary! To then drive through the tunnel under Sydney Harbour, I can’t but think, what an incredible piece of engineering!

Mind blowing advances are being made in all sorts of industries and environments.The brilliance and dedication of the people involved in bringing these amazing things together is truly astounding. It is a great time to be alive.

So if we, as a race, have the capability and mental power to create such amazing technological change in the world, how is it we still make such poor decisions? We’ve all been there – you know the internal question “What was I thinking?” Often no real damage is done and we learn from the experience. I guess at times it could be put down to the getting of wisdom.

You’re leading the Monaco Formula One Grand  Prix with one tyre stop to go, your team calls you in to switch from wet to dry tyres. You’ve got this, it’s in the bag, you have fought tooth and nail to get to this place, years of discipline and sacrifice. Only thing is, someone forgot to tell your pit crew! Sadly for Red Bulls’ Daniel Riccardo the race is lost!

Formula One could be described as one of the most expensive, professional and precise sports in the world.

Yet a critical and strategic decision failed to be correctly communicated. Still no one died and it added to the circus and drama that is Formula One.

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I recall the pleasure of taking my once young children to the Zoo. To watch their joyous expressions as they saw and experienced some of nature’s beautiful creatures. I even recall standing in the cavernous Gorilla observation area only separated by a pane of solid glass from the heavily vegetated environment. With the children so excited while visually scouring the available scene in hope of seeing one of these beautiful animals. Only to be “HOLY S–T” startled and pleasantly surprised to find the huge Silver Back male of the species actually lying at their feet only separated by the pane of glass – wow what a moment! Yet he appeared to be just as curious of my children as my children were of him.  What a beautiful animal and such a fantastic experience!

And so it is that a young three year old boy is able to access the Gorilla compound at the Cincinnati Zoo and find himself in the hands of the 17 year old Silver Back – Harambe. Was the boy in danger – probably. Was it the Zoo’s fault that a young child could enter the enclosure – no doubt it’s a factor. Where were the boy’s parents? – Obviously not close enough. Did the Zoo have to shoot dead the endangered Ape?  –  A tough decision made knowing it would be the death of Harambe.

It is bizarre that we as a race of apparently intelligent beings can’t guarantee the protection of an endangered species when they’re even in captivity.

For a decision to have every chance of a positive outcome, it can only be through correct information, the time allowed to analyse the situation and the appropriate communication allowing the implementation. Unfortunately not all decisions can be made in such a timely manner. Sometimes it comes down to a critical call without time on your side. A decision has to be made – right or wrong, there and then. Only time will tell whether it was the right decision. These decisions are the “Tough Call” and take courage and confidence in going with your “Gut Feel” – let alone what the fallout can be. Everyone’s an expert after the event.

Then it appears there are just non sensical decisions that have no rhyme or reason. Getting caught up in the moment with  abandon taking over, throwing caution to the wind.  Often these are the decisions that demand the highest and ultimate price.

No matter whether you can pilot a jet plane, create an amazing engineering feat, change the world with technology, lead a Formula One team or just “Average Joe”, we won’t always get our decisions right but one thing’s for sure.

“It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped” – Tony Robbins.

RD

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