How to become a decision-maker and how to implement a decision??

We all know how difficult it is to make the right decision at the right time, and your decision only decades what you have to do next and what would be the next situation in your life. So, it’s very necessary to make the right decision at the right time.
‘It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide on what to do.’
We all take some instant decisions like a soft drink or a health drink, a packet of potato chips or a bowl of fruit salad? These decisions are taken quickly but there are times or occasions when we need to think and rethink to arrive at a decision like when we have to decide what career option should we choose or what should not be chosen.
How true it is! We might do things in a matter of seconds but to decide what we want to do, we must pause, think and rethink. This procedure of decision-making needs ample time, courage and strength.
In the course of life, there are moments when we do not know what to do next, his to proceed and where to proceed. At such times we gather all our strength, self-confidence and firm determination to decide for ourselves. But sometimes when we are desperate and indecisive, we abide by other’s decision. This act of ours may sometimes prove beneficial and sometimes turn the other way round.
Teenagers, as they are in their developing stage, often pass through such moments of indecision. This decision making is one of the important aspects of our life; for, we have to survive in this fast fleeting, competitive and materialistic world.

Decision Making – An Art :

One may think how decision making can be an art. It is true science discovers but art creates. Decision making is to discover oneself and to create a situation which will enable us to survive. ‘No art is learned without a master’. The great master of decision making is experience and presence of mind. Each and everyone is bestowed with this art.
 The nature of this art may vary but everyone has it. It does not make any discrimination between the rich and poor, the elite and the less qualified. For example, a worker working in a factory should take an immediate decision when something goes wrong with his machine in order to avert a greater danger.
Sometimes one may have to choose the better evil. The head of the family may have to take an immediate decision and action for the betterment of the family.
The Principal of an institution has to take a prompt decision for the benefit of the students and the staff.
A student has to take critical decisions for the improvement of his studies and for a better career or future.
A teacher has to take quick decisions for the progress of his students.
A pilot has to take quick decision when something goes wrong with the functioning of the aircraft. Thus we all have to learn this indispensable art of taking decisions.
Often there arises a question: If all are capable of taking decisions then why only a few get promotions? Can you analyze and find the reason? One of the major reason is the extreme capability of making quick and adequate decisions at an apt time and apt place in proportion with the need. Though all are capable, decisions may not be of the same level and class. Some are slow in decision making not because they are unaware of the need of a decision but because their temperament differs. Even the simplest of decisions can disturb such people for days and nights. Delay in decision making can cause unforeseen damages sometimes.

Decision Making -A Two Way Process  :

‘Your capacity to say ‘NO’ determines your capacity to say ‘YES’ to greater things.’
But at the same time, one’s capacity to say ‘yes' and then to proceed may for eons into numerous uncertainties, and unwanted consequences. This unpredictable condition arises because decision making is a two-way process. Every decision taken has a cause and effect. It is very unfortunate that people sometimes take blind decisions which may ruin their life as well as others' too. It should always be kept in mind that the decisions one makes not only affect the decision-maker but they equally affect the one for whom the decision is made. Decisions are personal when they affect the decision-maker and social when they affect others.
A personal decision, in the long run, may change into a social one, as we are an integral part of society. While taking a decision the various degrees, consequences, the pros and cons, etc should be kept in mind. Be mindful whether the decision will have a favorable or unfavorable impact. Also, decide the various alternatives if the decision goes against your good judgment.
Gilpin says' I hate to see things done by halves. If it be right do it, if it be wrong, leave it undone.’ So then there is no option of redeciding and rediscovering. Whenever a decision is to be made, be brave, confident and firmly determined.
Since decision making is a two-way process, we must decide to take into consideration others' feelings and overall impact. Sometimes others influence, motivate or force us to decide, but this happens only when we fail to decide on our own. There are people who cannot take a firm decision for themselves. It is also possible that at times in this process of indecisions, one learns to make decisions by a long way.

Patience, Prudence and Indecision :

One may think how these three terms are correlated with each other. Here's an example. An administrator who has not much opinion of himself and who is not interested in making decisions for himself and for others waits on and depends on time to decide, thinking, time is the best healer. His close associates interpret it as patience. They say it was his sheer patience. Some may call it prudence. ‘ For it was his prudence that kept him silent’. And others say that he was unaware of the need to make a decision or was indecisive because he can not take decisions.
Now the question is how to find out whether it was patience, prudence or indecision? This is not very difficult but at the same time keep in mind that if the person has involved himself into the problem or matter and want to make an independent decision through constant thinking and reflections then that can be called patience. If he has thought about it deeply and found an alternate in itself then it is prudence. But it for every important and unimportant matter, his reaction remains the same then it can be called indecisiveness. This could be easily diagnosed by looking at the method of functioning for some time.

Criteria for judging a Good Decision : 

I have stated that every decision is a two-way process. Then how to judge the decision was prudent and right? Good decisions take no recommendation and are untouched by force or fraud.
 It is measured from the benefit it has drawn for the institution or the people at whom it was aimed and the power of the decision-maker against his designation. It should bring in some desired positive result even if not to the whole lot but to the major lot; be it to the management or the employees. The code of measure is its impact on human, social or religious values. For example, a decision of law payment fetches good income to the management, whereas, if they have not followed the basic salary rules then such decisions are unjust and cannot be called good.

How to Arrive at a Decision and Implement it :

Decision making is vital for successful adjustment in life. It should be made perfect with increasing confidence in one's own opinion. There should be a dynamic outlook towards the problem, independence, and freedom in thinking, exploring and dealing with the situation be able to weigh and select different priorities and take a matured decision.

Whenever faced with a dilemma to make a choice between two or more alternatives, think about the following in order:

1. What is your priority?
2. What has created a problem?
3. How and when did a problem arise?
4. What role can you play to alleviate the problem?
5. Do you have all the resources to combat the problem?
6. Consider the best solution that will impact all positively.
7. Form action plans and implementation.
8. Monitor implementation.
9. Take corrective measures if required.

Risk is involved in every choice and every decision. Look at Indira Gandhi. She had to take some vital decisions knowing fully, well that she would at once become a target. She did not hesitate and eventually paid with her life. In this uncertain and unpredictable world, nothing is stable and secure. But we should proceed with our decisions, for tomorrow is the sum of yesterday’s and today’s experiences. So without becoming helpless and hopeless, we should learn to seize and snatch every given opportunity and decide what to do and what not to do. One should learn to extract the best possible nectar from each other.

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