Thought Leadership: Third Choice Exploration Series #3
Third Choice Decision Making and Culture
Soliciting employees' ideas on fostering a supportive environment for third choice exploration empowers them to contribute to shaping the organization's culture. Acknowledging potential risks or downsides demonstrates a willingness to engage in a balanced discussion and address concerns that employees may have.
We continue or Third Choice Exploration Thought Leadership Series with a Q&A session with Laila Villalobos, MBA, SHRM-CP , Director of Human Resources for Red Mountain Group.
What does 3rd choice exploration mean to you?
To me, 3rd choice exploration means it’s not one or the other. It may be both, it may be neither. Its not a “one size fits all” approach. What works in one situation may not be successful in another situation. Every situation is nuanced in one way or another and requires a solution to reflect those nuances.
How do you embrace/apply this concept to your own job/life?
The way I apply this concept to Human Resources is to enter each situation with a fresh pair of eyes or ears. Stay open to possibilities and don’t let assumptions cloud my judgement. There is more than one way to solve a problem. Solutions can range from conventional to the unconventional, but the ultimate question is, would it work? Would it allow for everyone to work happily and efficiently and achieve the desired goal? I would say I apply this same mentality to my life as well.
How do you think the Red Mountain Group culture supports/encourages 3rd choice exploration?
I think Red Mountain encourages this ideology by emphasizing communication, building trust, and not dwelling on mistakes. These are elements of psychological safety. When one feels psychologically safe to communicate their thoughts and ideas, conversations takes on new heights because everyone can feed off each other’s contributions in a healthy way. Our meetings involve multiple departments, each with a different perspective, which are all useful and essential when exploring choices. Red Mountain is constantly looking at ways to support communication and trust, whether that’s through tools like The 6 Types of Working Genius or corporate coaching through Productive Learning. Encouraging conversations is how we get better at having them!
In what ways do you think 3rd choice exploration contributes to RMGs success and growth?
3rd choice exploration requires flexibility and fluidity, remaining open to the option of some other possibility, while also reflecting inwardly and outwardly on what worked and what didn’t. 3rd choice exploration requires one to think critically instead of relying on standard operating procedures and falling into “auto mode”. This way of thinking has allowed us to adapt to market changes, personnel changes, and business opportunities, etc. in a unique way because we flex to the opportunity, where other companies only take on projects that fit their mold. While this ideology is not for everyone, and difficult for some, it’s what allows us to adapt to changing circumstances and allows us the opportunity for growth individually, and as a company.
