It is an ongoing battle in one`s head I think, balancing between taking a risk and playing it safe. We have to constantly weigh out our options, whether we take risks or not. What I find most effective when I have to make my mind in a difficult situation is to remember the words my mother taught me to ask my self. "What is the worst that can happen?".This of course for situations where there is a prerequisite that a certain risk should be taken. It is the sort of line dropped to encourage you to
go for it. For example when I was younger, I remember being afraid to raise my hand in class to say something. By asking my self the question , What is the worst that can happen?" I realised that the only thing that could happen was possibly being a little embarrassed facing the crowd(maybe get some sneers from fellow classmate boys), and that the gains would be much bigger, with me learning to overcome stage fright, making my voice heard by others, showing participation...etc. The same goes with the time I was hesitant in making long term commitments like joining various school teams or out of school activities. Though at first posing as obstacles that may be hard to overcome, when you see some positive qualities in it, that is when you take a risk. I have seen that risks based on good intentions taken for yourself often times work for the better, making you stronger to adversities and expanding your potential. My mother always taught me to be a risk taker.
The situation is different though when the risk taking involves not only you. More so when your life is at stake like Shackleton`s expedition.What you can manage and deal by yourself may not be what others can handle, in order to change the risk factor into positive results. When you are alone risk taking means challenging the boarders of your capacity, which your are aware of, but when working as a team, you do not know what those boarders of others are. It is hard to draw line on whether to take risks or not but I think instincts play a big part in this.
Risks are an inevitable part of living, l
iving ambitiously, and as the book says, leaders must learn to be comfortable with the discomfort of risk. Weighing the possibilities, evaluating the consequences must be constantly done, but when there is momentum, I believe that we must have the courage to take a step.
Risk taking image on Stanford Technology Program:
Natsuko,
ReplyDeleteI liked when you said about taking risks that the gains would be much bigger than what you lose. I still feel hesitant to speak up in class and I have been combating with this problem for a long time. What your mother taught you and your views on them gave me great insights about risk-taking!
As for a representative of a group choosing to take risk or not, I agree that it is a hard decision to make. However, it's also true that without taking risks, you'll never learn anything. In a group, I don't think only one person should choose to take a risk or not. Just like Shakleton had Worsley, I think that a leader should consult someone that he respects and trusts before making the decision because it really is hard to make a decision that significantly affects others.
Yuca
I like what your mom says, "What is the worst that can happen?" In most situations in our daily lives when we hesitate to do something that we really ought to do, this question adds the perfect amount of perspective.
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