Makin’ It Work
Transitioning from Corrections to
Community and the World of Work
Lesson 8:
Choices &
Consequences
Module III: Solving Problems Logically
7/14/2017
© 2008 by Steve Parese, Ed.D.
Words of Wisdom
“Definition of insanity:
Doing the same things over
& over again, expecting
different results.”
What do you get out of this?
How does it apply to you?
7/14/2017
Today’s Lesson
Today’s lesson will focus on weighing
the pros and cons of all possible
choices when solving a difficult
problem.
1. Read new story about Anna
2. Solve her problem by listing her
choices & consequences
3. Apply this to our own problems
4. Review & MiniQuiz
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Anna’s Story 2
Let’s read along on page 44.
“Anna decided to ask Mrs. Roberts
for help finding a job…”
Questions after reading:
Anna is about to make a serious mistake. Use the
guide on page 45 to help her resolve her problem.
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Step 1: Stop & Think
Anna decides to stop and think
about her problem before
jumping to conclusions. She
takes a deep, calming breath
and walks across the street to
an all-night diner to think this
out.
“Don’t flip out. Just
slow down and think
this through.”
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Step 2: Define Problem
2. Define
Problem
She orders a cup of coffee
and writes her
Problem
Statements.
“My problem is I am _________ about _____________.”
“My manager probably feels _______ that I might ______."
“My problem is I am confused about which job to take.”
“My manager probably feels worried that I might leave
without giving notice."
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Step 3: Identify Goal
3. Identify
Goal
After some thinking about
what is most important, she
decides on her
Goal Statement.
“I want _____________ (but without _______________).”
“I want the best paying job, without giving up benefits or
safety.”
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Back to Harvey’s
Anna realizes she needs more
information about Harvey and
his job offer. She decides to go
back and ask him some
specific questions.
What should she ask about?
What is the TAKE-HOME PAY? Are there TIPS? BONUSES? RAISES?
What about BENEFITS? (Medical, dental, child care)
What kind of HOURS? JOB DUTIES? CUSTOMERS? PROMOTION?
And is Harvey really SLEAZY? Is it a SAFE PLACE to work?
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About Choices
In any problem situation, we have many
possible responses. Poor problem
solvers often get stuck in a rut, making
the same mistakes over and over
again... expecting different results.
Good problem solvers are able to see
many alternatives to a problem
situation, and that gives them more
choices.
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Step 4: Consider Choices
4. Choices &
Consequences
After getting her answers from Harvey,
Anna decides to list all her possible
choices, even bad ones.
What are ALL her possible
choices?
1. Call in sick tomorrow and avoid the problem.
2. Talk to the manager at the Hotel right now. Whatever happens, happens.
3. Go into the Hotel tomorrow but avoid the manager. Deny it if confronted.
4. Go into the Hotel tomorrow and try to negotiate the best salary by playing
one job against the other.
5. Go into the Hotel tomorrow and be honest. Explain that she talked with
Harvey but wants to stay at her current job.
6. Work both jobs on different shifts until she can make up her mind.
7. Quit the Hotel and work at Harvey's.
8. Work at Harvey's with intention to marry/date him for his money.
9. Quit both jobs and stay at home. Possibly find another job or take some
classes.
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About Consequences
We should make a habit of considering
the predictable consequences of our
options BEFORE we make a choice.
Poor problem solvers often make two
critical mistakes:
a. They think only about the immediate
consequences, and ignore the long-term ones.
b. They fail to consider how their choices will
affect others in their lives.
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Step 5: Consider Consequences
4. Choices &
Consequences
Anna carefully considers the
consequences of her choices,
weighing their pros and cons.
What are the positive and negative
consequences of Anna’s choices?
OPTION 6. Work both jobs on different shifts until she can make up her mind.
POSITIVE:
NEGATIVE:
Double her take-home salary.
Avoids having to make choice right
now.
Exhausted. Has to deal with Harvey’s
sleaziness. Might miss meetings at
Hope House. Could be discovered and
fired from both jobs.
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About Choose & Act
To find the best choice, look back at
your original goal. Compare it to your
choices and their consequences.
Then ask:
"Which choice is most likely to
reach my goal with the fewest
negative consequences?"
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Step 5: Choose & Act
Anna’s original goal was:
5. Choose
& Act
“I want the best paying job without
giving up benefits or safety.”
Which choice best reaches
this goal with the fewest
negative consequences?
1. Call in sick tomorrow and avoid the problem.
2. Talk to the manager at the Hotel right now. Whatever happens, happens.
3. Go into the Hotel tomorrow but avoid the manager. Deny it if confronted.
4. Go into the Hotel tomorrow. Negotiate by playing jobs against each other.
5. Go into the Hotel tomorrow. Be honest but explain you want to stay.
6. Work both jobs on different shifts until she can make up her mind.
7. Quit the Hotel and work at Harvey's.
8. Work at Harvey's with intention to marry/date him for his money.
9. Quit both jobs and stay at home. Possibly find another job or take some
classes.
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Group Activity
Solving YOUR Own Problem
Use the worksheet on page 47 to analyze
one work-related problem. Take it
through all the steps.
Prepare to share (or even act out)
your scenario with the group.
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KEY POINT #1
Good problem solvers avoid
repeating the same mistakes over
and over again. Instead, they come
up with as many choices as possible
before making a decision.
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KEY POINT #2
It is important to think about
both long- and short-term
consequences of our decisions,
not only for ourselves, but for
others as well.
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MiniQuiz #8
Let’s complete the
MiniQuiz in the workbook
and review it as a group.
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√
Today’s Words of Wisdom:
“Definition of insanity:
Doing the same things over & over
again, expecting different results.”
How does this fit in with our lesson?
What is ONE THING you learned in this class that
you will remember after leaving?
7/14/2017