Taking Personal Decision
1. Introduction
2. Why a person finds it difficult to take personal decision?
During childhood all our decisions including daily routine activities were taken by our parents. Many Children are not even able to choose their dishes in buffet lunch or dinner in the absence of their parents. During school days all our activities were decided and planned by our teachers and for taking personal decisions we were dependent on our parents, teachers or pear groups. During service life our activities in the workplace are decided by our bosses. It means we are not in the habit of taking decisions from childhood to old age and therefore find it difficult to take personal decision.
3. What stops us in taking personal decision?
Let us
discuss the impediments or hurdles in taking decision. What stops us in taking
our own personal decisions. It is our mindset which either enables us or prevent us in
taking decision. Positive mindset, clarity in thoughts and unbiased point of
views are required to take decision. One is not able to take decision with negative
mindset. What are those elements which make our mindset negative? Fear,
shakiness, lack of confidence make our mindset negative. Fear about
uncertainty in getting desired outcome is the biggest impediment in taking
decision. Fear comes from lack of confidence and lack of confidence comes from
lack of proper knowledge. Shakiness comes from fear and lack of confidence. Lack
of clarity in thought creates confusion which stops us in taking proper
decision. Unbiased opinion, clear vision, good listening skill, independent
thought, foresightedness and open mind are required for bringing clarity in
thought. For unbiased opinion, mind should be free from all types of
prejudice and biasness.
4. Gathering information for decision making
Lack of information
is another impediment in taking decision. Gathering information or feedback
does not mean discussing decision with other before taking it. Four elements
i.e., ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘from whom’ and ‘how’ are important while gathering
information. One should know the type of information required for taking
decision. One should also know when, from whom and how to gather information. For
example, a young and energetic Civil Engineer has decided to leave job and to
have his own construction company. For taking this decision he should know what
are the information required for taking decision i.e., amount of capital,
registration of company, legal and statutory requirements, sources of raw
materials, labours and expertise, etc. Required information are to be gathered
from proper and genuine sources well before taking decision.
5. Implementing Decision
Implementation
of decision is as important as taking decision. Non-implementation or delayed
implementation frustrates the very purpose of taking decision which is mainly
due to procrastination. Procrastination makes the decision time barred for its
implementation. Let us discuss one interesting example of getting decision time
barred. Mr. Santanu got affectionate towards Jasmine during his college days. Jasmine
was two years junior to Santanu and both were studying in the same college.
Santanu decided to propose Jasmine but he was waiting for opportune moment which
never came during his college days. Then he decided to propose her after
completing his post-graduation, but he could not. Then he decided to propose her
immediately after getting job. But it took another two years in proposing her
when already her marriage was fixed. It is the fear of rejection which stopped him
to propose Jasmine immediately after taking decision. Anyway, the possible
outcome could have been either acceptance or rejection which he could have been
known much earlier had he not delayed in proposing her. Acceptance could have
removed his anxiety of choosing life partner whereas rejection could have saved
his precious time which could have been utilized in finding another person as
life partner. I hope you understood the importance of prompt implementation of
decision.
6. Developing the habit of taking decision
Friends, taking
timely decision and its prompt implementation is the key to success. Every
successful person takes decision and promptly implement it. They never bother about
other person’s opinion about their decision. On the other hand, most of us
bother about other person’s opinion and therefore fails to take decision. Friends, develop the habit of taking decision
whether small or big and implement it without any delay. If you are parent then
inculcate this habit in yourself and in your children. The question is how to inculcate
the habit of taking decision in children. Before this question there may be
another question that may arise in your mind whether children are able to
take decision. Yes, children are also able to take certain decisions. Encourage
your child in developing the habit of taking small decision by giving them
choice. For example, if you want to give egg to your child in breakfast, ask
him whether he want to take boiled egg or omelette. Such little efforts will
enable you to develop decision-making capability in your child which will not
only enable him to take big decision in life but also make him independent.
Friends,
develop the habit of taking your own personal decisions no matter whether it is
small or big and immediately take steps for its implementation. Never
depend on any other person for taking your own personal decision. Develop belief and confidence on
your ability to take decision and the decision per se. Taking decisions and its
prompt implementation will give you confidence and will improve your
personality and leadership quality. Taking decisions and ensuring its prompt
implementation is one of the most important attributes of leadership quality. I
have seen the persons depending on their nearest relatives or friends for
taking own personal decision or any other decisions related to family
matters. Such persons cannot emerge as leaders in their own family and also
lose respect from their family members. Such persons knowingly or unknowingly
are allowing other persons to interfere in their own personal and family matters and
thereby losing independence by giving command of their life to somebody else.
Please remember as such there is no right or wrong decision. It is
important to take decision as and when necessity arises. Even if decision taken
by you comes out to be incorrect, you are not owing to anybody else except
yourself and in the process, you will learn to take correct decision.
7. Conclusion
Whether it is a
matter of choosing your profession, carrier or life partner you have to take
your own decision. Many persons depend
on their parents or relatives to choose their life partners. But ultimately
nobody else except yourself is going to take the responsibility of your life
partner. You are the best judge for your own decision and that’s why believe in
yourself, take your personal decision, implement it and own responsibility for
your decision.
