Choice Theory: An Essential Tool for All Entrepreneurs

by Charlotte Wellen
(Charlottesville, VA)

">

My recommended book, "Choice Theory," helps entrepreneurs better understand themselves and what they want from their businesses.

One of the most difficult things about starting up any business is knowing yourself and what you want.

In Choice Theory, Dr. William Glasser, shows how all humans are caught up in an old belief system he calls external control psychology,

According to Glasser, external control psychology makes us believe that we are at the mercy of the control of others, and that we are not in control of our own actions or emotions.

Glasser encourages us to re-frame how we see things by learning how to control our own choices, so that we become stronger and more independent.

He shows us what we can't change in the real world and what is completely up to us to craft.

For instance, if we stand in the way of a Mac truck, we will be mowed down.

However, we do have choices if we find ourselves in that situation.

• Option A: We could communicate with the driver and do our best to convince him to slow down or stop.
  
  
• Or...Option B: We could step out of the way of the truck.

This is a very useful concept when working with employees in a business.

Often, employees become problematic when they feel that what they are doing doesn't matter.

Employers might have trouble getting employees to expect the most of themselves.

With Choice Theory, employers can learn how to offer employees opportunities to choose what would be beneficial for the company.

Choice Theory shows employers how to create strong staff relationships of trust so that employees want to do their best because they know they are valued members of your team.

Best of all, Choice Theory helps entrepreneurs better understand themselves and what they want from their businesses.

It points out thought processes that may not be working well, but which have become habitual, and suggests many new ways to think through problems.

Entrepreneurs who master Choice Theory will find that they are more self-confident, and their employee turn-over rates will drop to zero because everyone will want a chance to work with a boss who knows Choice Theory.