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Today, I'll be talking about the AREA method and end-to-end system
for complex problem-solving and how to make rational decisions.
I'm Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, a professor,
author, and CEO of Decisive:
a decision sciences company that offers tools and services for individuals,
companies, governments, and non-profits to solve complex problems.
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First, my story: one day when I was a young girl,
my mother went out and got her makeup done at a local department store makeup counter,
and when she returned, she asked my father how she looked.
You replied," dear, when I look at you,
I see my fantasy,
not the makeup you're wearing."
She got angry.
Did this mean he didn't really see her?
Even as a little girl,
I realized it meant he saw her perfectly.
What it illustrates and what you see on
this slide is that we don't see things as they are.
We see them as we are,
and that means that we assign feeling and meaning to our interactions.
That may make our interpretation of events not only incorrect,
but it may also mean that we can be in a moment with someone,
a big or a small moment,
or even over time,
where we may have repeated interactions with someone,
and although we're together,
it means that we may be having totally different experiences.
Now, it's one thing when my mother is thinking about looking and feeling pretty,
but it can be downright dangerous if we're sizing up a situation
where being on the same page and really connecting with someone is critical,
when the conversation is urgent,
and the outcome of the decision may make make or break trust and impact our well-being.
