Participation.

The Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah said in an interview something that we all know: 

People who have been heard, and whose position is understood, tend to be more willing to accept an outcome that they wouldn't have chosen because they feel that they've had a voice, that they've participated in the process.

This is consistent with Step 5 of the Five Step Good Decision Making Process - Hearing. 

The 'process' can be a single decision. Or the entire boss-worker relationship.

The job advertisement. 'This is our Widget. If you build Widgets that look like this, we need you to help us build our Widget.'

The interview. 'Have you read the contract of employment that says that if you build your Widget in the way that we describe then we will put money in your bank?'

The informal chat over a coffee. 'What sport do you play?'

The conversation over a copy of the employment agreement. 'Yes, we can add a clause that says that you can leave early on Tuesdays for State representative hockey practice in exchange for those overnight work trips interstate.' 

The tour of the potential workplace. 'Here's your desk and your surroundings where you will spend a lot of hours of your life.'

The job is offered and accepted. 'Thank you for choosing to work with us.'

The Entry Interview. 'Why did you choose to work with us and what are you hoping for in this job?' 

The three days of induction before touching a computer mouse. 'Here are our Values and let's take a tour of our factory floor so you can see the final Widget coming off the conveyor belt with the bit that we want you to build.'

The ad hoc conversations. 'I heard that the Hockeyroos are training down the road today. Let's have our weekly catch up over a sandwich at the oval.'

And so on.

A year on and the boss raises the potential new position in Singapore.

The boss chooses Geoffrey. Disappointment. Hurt. A sting to the ego. Self doubt.

Reflection. Recalibration.

There's a job in the Rio office. 2016 Olympics host city.