Organizational Development SIG presents Being in the Zone: The Impact on Critical Decision Making.  Facilitated by Judith L. Glick-Smith, PhD.

There has been a great deal of interest in decision making in the last 15 years. In addition, there have been studies about being in a flow state, which, by definition, means that one is making right decisions within the context of an activity. However, there have been few studies on how being in a flow state actually facilitates appropriate decision making.

Most people have experienced moments while doing what they love most, when time seems to slow or even stand still, and right decisions come easily. In the field of positive psychology, this is called “flow,” “optimal experience,” “being in the zone.”  These moments occur most often when people are working toward their most valued personal goals or engaged in an activity they love, such as sailing, mountain climbing, painting, and so on. There is a heightened awareness around making the right choices and the impact those choices will have on others and the environment. In these flowing moments, one knows that he or she is being authentic. In addition, studies have shown that people who report a high frequency of flow experiences are more satisfied with life in general. This phenomenon seems to happen for everyone from time to time, but how might one consciously choose to live one’s life in this flow state on a regular basis? And, how might organizations facilitate flow experiences for their employees, thereby accelerating innovation, new job creation, and increased personal and organizational well-being?

This presentation is an expansion of my doctoral research which investigated the flow experiences of firefighters in the midst of critical incidents. We will discuss the characteristics of flow and how organizations can use experiential learning and mentoring programs to accelerate innovation, improve leadership skills, and enhance the overall bottom line.

About the Presenter:

Judith (“Judy”) L. Glick-Smith, Ph.D., is President of MentorFactor, Inc. She has been a technical communicator, entrepreneur, and business consultant since 1983. MentorFactor focuses on leadership development, organizational development, executive and life coaching, change management, conflict management, and transformative strategic planning for both organizations and individuals. Judy is also a professor in the Department of Communication at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, GA.

Judy has a Ph.D. in Transformative Studies with a concentration in Integral Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She has a Master of Science in Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University, a BBA in Accounting with a minor in Information Systems from Georgia State University.

Judy is a Fellow and Past International President of the Society for Technical Communication. She has also been involved with numerous other professional societies.

Judy was an instructor at Richland Community College in Dallas from 1991 to 2004. She has published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and has regularly presented at professional organizations and conferences since 1988.