Making Tough Decisions in Life and Work

Not taking decision or avoiding taking decisions – too falls under decision-making.

 All the decision taken by us as well as forced on us have long-term consequences.

Decision-making* is not only choosing an option – but also acting on it.

If we just decide but don't take any action – the decision making is not complete.

People who in spite of being uncertain, unsure and in unknown situations can take tough decisions and actions – are the ones who are more successful, happier, more satisfied, have less regrets etc etc.

Taking tough decisions constitutes risk-taking* and all risks have rewards, opportunities* as well as pains - Some decisions have irreversible outcomes.

The decision could be as big as "Shall we sell Yahoo" [I am referring to the first time when they were offered a very large amount and they didn't sell anticipating a windfall later - and - later they had to sell after few years for much-much lower price] OR which profession/career/course should I choose OR whether to continue with the relationship.

OR the decision could be AS SMALL AS what should I wear for the party or what should we have for dinner etc etc.

The magnitude of the type of decision-taken and acted upon – decides the impact and trajectory of our life.

Our Human nature makes us filled with doubts in small decisions too - and - When it is a big decision we need to take - we feel anxious, insecure, and sometimes miserable.

There are people who can take big decision on behalf of others [like for their organizations] - YET they are at loss in taking decisions in their personal life.

Then Sometimes the best decision[under the circumstances] delivers a bad outcome and in other situations a seemingly bad decision results in a wonderful outcome.

This is because we cannot see all the variables involved - let alone predict how they will all come together to determine future events

When we make a decision, we are merely deciding which path and direction to throw our energies, resources, focus and efforts.

No one makes perfect decisions 100% of the time - We date the wrong people, we stay in bad job/difficult-bosses/toxic-relationships longer than we should TO we order the wrong food.

We have to understand that whenever we are in catch-22* situations - action will always have better outcomes [irrespective of whether we failed or succeeded in our attempts] - while inaction always have hidden dangers, losses and consequences that manifests later in our life.

When we delay taking a decision and acting on it - because we are scared of messing up/failing/making-mistakes => nothing changes in your situations[excepting only those situations that miraculously fizzle out].

We can never count on miracles - But when we are proactive – we are choosing to move ahead — and that’s one of the best decisions you can make.

Why Most people hate making decisions – it is because almost all of us overcomplicate our situation, circumstances.

Much of our emotional strain during decision-making is really our own internal resistance to change vis-à-vis being in comfort-zone* - because We don’t like the feeling of being out of control.

Unfortunately, the future is out of your control. The moment you accept that, your resistance fades, and your emotional tension fades along with it.

But Our Fears of taking the wrong option leads to a period of limbo where nothing gets done and the issue in all probability would grow bigger and more damaging.

The art of Decision-making is also the art of Problem-solving*.

All the *marked ones have separate DIY blogs on them in from the heart of Subhashis in success unlimited mantra – in addition to this article please also read another article on How to take decisions.

57 Ways to become comfortable in taking tough-decisions and acting upon them

1.      Accept the fact that you cannot see the future and therefore cannot make perfect decisions

2.     Accept the fact that your decision could go wrong

3.     Identify all the different-ways the situation can become worse – and then prepare for the same pro-actively, in advance on how to mitigate, should it go wrong

4.     Understand that you cannot perceive -let alone control, all the variables that will determine how things turn out in the future.

5.     Focus on the variables that matter the most to you AND those within your area of control and influence*

6.     Take full ownership of the decision -Don’t wait for others to give an approval +Don’t wait consensus – because in complex decisions, a consensus may never happen

7.     Remember we can only control our decision-making process and cannot control outcomes – accepting and Realizing this can relieve a lot of stress and can make your creative intuition to work favorably for you

8.    Identify what you KNOW and what you do not know

9.     Identify what information you have AND what information you need the minimum level – don't get paralyzed with information overload

10. Identify what is the minimum level of outcome that you can live with - Figure Out What You Really Want

11.  Identify what is negotiable [meaning you can give-up] and what is absolutely minimal needed

12. Identify what resources you have

13. Identify what resources you need

14. Identify what you need to change with yourself – your beliefs, your pet-peeves, your assumptions, your perceptions => to see the picture from different angles

15. Set a date and time when you will make your final decision, and stick to it- When you decide in advance on a deadline for your final decision, your mind will respond automatically by gradually shutting down the never-ending stream of new things to consider.  - for full read Making Big Decisions in From the heart of Subhashis in success unlimited mantra