The triumph of human crossing - The Economic Times

The triumph of human crossing - The Economic Times: sumantra ghoshal again... Ach's experiments in psychology found that "there is a barrier that people have to cross before a wish or a desire becomes an unwavering commitment. "
When people move from ‘I’d like to’ to ‘I shall’, they cross their personal Rubicon. After that crossing, there is no more hesitation, no more intellectual weighing up of alternatives, and no way back.
There are three phases in the journey across the Rubicon. The first phase is that of intention formation. Next comes the actual crossing over to the domain of will and volition. After that, in the course of action-taking to achieve the goal, lies the phase of intention protection.
Intention Formation
The first phase of intention formation is triggered by the perception of an opportunity. The opportunity must not be routine. To stimulate the process of intention formation, the opportunity has to be exciting, something special, something that really makes a difference.
Crossing the Rubicon
There can be no crossing of the Rubicon unless there is a genuine feeling of choice. Without choice, there can be no ‘free will’, no volition. Another essential requirement is the recognition and acceptance of personal responsibility.
Intention Protection
Some shield their intentions by deliberately controlling their work context.
They restructure their work to reduce fragmentation, reserve parts of the day for reflection, and manage the expectations of others — bosses, colleagues, subordinates — so as to broaden the scope of discretionary behaviour.
They also create sources of positive energy — ‘personal wells’ that they can access to draw energy from. For some, it may be a long walk or intensive sports; for others, it may be a conversation with a close friend or partner. At work, they re-energise themselves by celebrating successes along the way.
Perhaps the most important requirement for intention protection is the protection of one’s courage and self-confidence.