MSLD 632 Module 7- Collaborative Decision Making

Whether we’re making decisions on our own or in a group, collaboration can be very useful in making effective decisions. Collaboration are not only useful in terms of the speed and convenience of completing tasks, but they can also be used as a learning opportunity for everyone involved (Llopis, 2013). While we may be capable of problem solving by ourselves, it is important to keep in mind that we only see things in our own point-of-view. By understanding what others think, we may be able to obtain information that we may have never initially thought of.

I was able to get a better understanding of this when I unexpectedly got promoted to my first leadership position for a university summer camp program. I understood that my position was overall the same as my last one, but it was much more independent and a lot of the decisions had to be made by myself. One day, I had a situation where one of my camp participant got very ill. Both of my bosses were working out-of-town that day and it was mostly up to me to help the child. Not really knowing what to do, I asked two other camp coordinators (same position as me): who’s been working a few years more than I have for assistance. Despite being a coordinator for a few years, the two of them never really dealt with such situation: putting us all on the same boat.

Since the child was starting to have mild breathing complications, I knew that she had to get immediate medical attention. However, since the camp program had very strict rules and procedures, I felt a bit lost. Because of this, I received help from the two counselors: who were more familiar with their contacts. In the end, I was able to contact the child’s parents and my boss and was able to take her to a nearby hospital.

Since the situation was a bit of an emergency, everything was fast paced. If the situation was not an emergency, the first thing I would consider from this scenario is to take time and learn from my co-workers. At the time, I was new into my job and wasn’t familiar with all the procedures. Without their assistance, I probably wouldn’t have done my job properly. Another benefit to always consider is the emotional support received. For this scenario, I was beyond worried about dealing with the whole situation. But with my co-workers providing assisting and clarifying things, it helped me boost confidence to get the job done. Lastly, as weird as it sounds, I should always consider this example when group work is an option. Personally, I am not a fan of working with others and always have the mentality that working alone is best. While working alone may be convenient, it is important to remember that our minds are limited and working alone will prevent us from branching out.

References:

Llopis, G. (2013). 6 Ways Effective Listening Can Make You A Better Leader. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2013/05/20/6-effective-ways-listening-can-make-you-a-better-leader/#4108c20d1756