Travel on a Level Plane – Decision Making Part IV

This series of articles began with the premise that we use physical symbols like funnels and tunnels to help our brain to focus on an easily understood analogy. The difference between these visual reference points and the complexity of our brain is huge. When we allow our ideas and decisions to be driven by a narrowly drawn graphic we are either shortsighted, lazy or perhaps both. We also know that ordinarily the shortest distance between two points is a straight line and not some three dimensional concept. If we remove the walls of the funnel or tunnel, the result is a flat unbounded plane on which to move freely between points. While it is still an analogy it allows us to consider a road map in which there is a starting point and a destination. This visualization also can account for detours and stops along the way. That level playing board can also be depicted like a chess board where moves may go in any direction and sometimes jumping over empty space.

This fact is always true: The current position on the map must be known to make informed decisions on next steps.

• Line of Sight Decisions – As Olympic pole vaulters prepare mind and body for the jump, often we see a deep concentrated look at the target and sometimes an almost imperceptible nodding of the head. They see in their minds each step of the approach, the planting and takeoff point, the swing and turn, and the landing. Think… see… do. In spite of hours of practice the effort is not quite instinctive and visualization of arriving at the target is a key to getting there. Even if our goals are in sight and we have been there before, there will be decision points along the way to achieving them.
• Road Map Decisions – Even with a map or a modern GPS device we can still get erroneous directions. Every intersection may not be a direct route and every dead end is not a stopping point. Detailed planning of the arrival at the destination will involve Google Maps-like turn-by-turn decision points along the way. Advance planning for the trip toward a goal may still involve interim decisions about alternatives to the chosen path when unforeseen obstacles occur. Planning gives confidence that the objective is obtainable. Experience, intelligence and ingenuity are needed to augment that planning in order to succeed.
• Airline Map Decisions – Traveling over great distances also gives proof that point-to-point travel will have naturally occurring kinks. How flat is your Earth? Flat maps are at best a distorted projection of a spherical object onto a flat plane. Travel from New York to Sydney would involve tunneling and swimming if the straight line analogy were actually true. Knowing the true course around the distortions means knowing the exact location of the destination relative to the current position. Personal and management decisions need to employ “radar” instincts and tools to stay on course. Automation is a necessary provider of that data, but is not EVER the decision maker.
• Chessboard Decisions – A chessboard may be a flat plane but it requires 3-dimensional thinking to win. The difference between a board game and real life is that in life the rules change with each situation. Job seekers frustrated with linear thinking may have to learn to move all of their pieces at any time to make forward progress. Knowing when to think “outside the playing field” and when it is against the rules is the tricky part. Innovative activity is a great thing, but the actual rules of the game need to be fully understood as well. Making pragmatic decisions to reach the objective must be tempered with respectful consideration of what is considered normal. The repercussions of rule breaking are a risk assessment exercise and the consequences must be carefully considered before jumping around the board.

Throw out all of these concepts of funnels, tunnels and planes and smoosh them all together to form your own brand of analogy… one that works for you. Mine is a hyperbolic paraboloid because I am a geek and proud! Regardless of the tools used to assist your thinking, the most important thing is to actually think!

 
Image credit: rolffimages / 123RF Stock Photo (modified)