EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING

Decision is a commitment made in a climate of free choice, with no

conditions attached to it. Discussion by itself is not successful or
unsuccessful e.g. by deciding to marry. We have to work for it, the decision
must be translated into action. If the commitment is not full than decision is
partial.
Decisions can change in rare cases under following circumstances
(1) When ground reality change drastically.

Priority in life change

Often we become so head oriented, that stop feeling, we do not know
what our actual desires are, we may delay or procrastinate where thinking
and feeling is not in harmony, to total integrity between heart and head, the
person suffers from split personality dividing forces within i.e. he is under
distress. We often make wrong decisions like sowing poisonous seeds,
which like need often grows faster in life.

Mental blocks in the way of effective decision making

1) Getting alienated losing touch with feelings child brought in.

2) Resignation and submission. -- Totally surrendering to external pressure,
force or authority without any critical thinking -- Inertia.
3) No Priority. -- Objects in life are not Properly prioritised which gives rise
to conflicts in loyalty.
4) Lack of confidence or poor self-esteem.
5) Unrealistic Image of Self or Lack of Self-awareness.
6) Approval - Craving for approval from public, Parental forces and
Authority. Decision not based on convictions and sliding towards
convenience.
7) Fatalism.
8) Lack of Mature Thinking.
9) Hopelessness, Anxiety depression.
10) Obsessive Thirst for Applause and public appreciation Hitler.
11) Perfectionism - a perfection maniac
12) Frustration, Lack of Tolerance.

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13) Option -blindness Not becoming aware of other options or avenues
which are available Lack of Proper Knowledge. When one door is shut
there are nine doors which are open.
14) Presume of time and taste.

STAGES IN DECISION TAKING

1. Listing all available options the most indecisive problems are when
one
is on the horns of a dilemma. This becomes a very important step.
2. When you are sustaining free flow education with respect to your
options, your emotions is in a State of difficult stage, how do your
feel? Try to observe them with detached mind.
3. While just observing your feeling and not doing anything that is not
making any option. Think “How do I feel about it”? At This stage
slowly the feelings get crystallised into proper thought shapes and
there is a clarity in thinking.

4. Can you take decision without knowing what you want from life?
List your priorities. Is money more important than recognition and
your talent peace of mind than flexures? Do you have sufficient time
to chase what you want?
Priorities are decided by head

A decision evolves in a contemplative mood. At this stage there is only

a designation of an option yet it is not a decision only an option has
become clear. It can became a decision only when the heart is willing to
accept it.

5. Invest your thoughts feelings and efforts and concentrate on your

options
as a total integrated efforts then it because a decision. The word decide
comes from a Latin word which also means “To Kill” -- to kill other
options. This is the first step for effective decision making.

6. Getting from the seat and start doing – Implementing your decision –
The expertise in decision making comes from practice. You have the

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 power and knowledge of your past experiences to choose and make
even a gut-level decision

Self Diagnosis

7. Do you day-dream? What sort of things would you do if you could be

outgoing and uninhibited – as free as you wished?

What prevents you from doing or achieving it?

When you are given a compliment –

Do you usually acknowledge it ?
Do you suggest you really do not deserve it ?

How many of your friendships has lasted for more than 10 years?

Which of your current friends you feel will be still important to you – 10
years from now?

If 100 persons of your age are chosen at random by you, how many do you
think will find leading a more satisfied life than you.

Do you allocate enough time for any work you do?

Are you alert to the ways in which you waste your time?
Are you alert to the waste in which others waste your time?
Do you eliminate unnecessary task?
Do you throw out what you don’t need – even from your mental cupboard?
Do you handle something at one stretch? Or do it in part?
Do you leave your time for recreation and fun?

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Wish – is something which is not important. But we feel it is important.

Need – is important. Priorities in a life.

I need to communicate, although I do not wish to communicate. My

communication must be based on priorities in life.
‘If I know what I need and not what I feel’, problems in decision making can
be solved. You are afraid not to displease others’. Most of our decisions we
make out of fear, I wish I have my friends’ good opinion. Our decision is not
based on our needs, but on what our friends or people would say. My
priorities must have integrity.
Concept of right and wrong doing –
1. To be in communion with others – to be understood – to belong to a
group to communicate and be understood.
2. Remain independent – to pursue your own priorities – leave elbow
room’.
3. Productivity or being useful person. I am a person who matters. I am
creative being. I can contribute for world – not I just exist. I am an actor
first, an experiencer second.

NOTE:-
Under-arousal : boredom, apathy, lacking in competitive spirit, no thrill.
Over-arousal : leads to excessive anxiety, confusion, and a sapping of
Self-confidence.
Management staff – overstress.
Blue collar -- lack of job satisfaction.
Under stress -- no opportunities to show your skill, noisy, dirty
atmosphere.
Physical symptoms – Migraines, back-aches etc.
Our vulnerable zones differ from person to person.
For some it may be our hearts, or our stomachs, our colons, or our minds.
Each one may be taxed to a point where we suffer coronary heart disease, or
gastric ulcers or spastic colons or nervous break-down. In this way stress is
related to many illness from eczema to cancer, from migraine to diabetes,
from flu to schizophrenia, from asthma to depression.

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HOW MUCH RECOGNITION DOES A MAN NEED?

Work Ethic and Ethics in Work

Nishkam Karma is an attitude which is positive, strength-giving, and stress-

free. While imbibing the spirit of nishkam karma to stimulate duty-
orientation and selflessness, rather than merely rights-orientation.

Work for man in Indian Philosophy unlike the Western or Biblical

thought has not been contemplated as the fruition of an angry curse: “Thou
shalt earn thy daily bread by the sweat of thy brow”. Unlike the rat, it is a
man’s business to grasp the essence of nishkam karma i.e. to strive to work,
free from ceaseless, insatiable hunger for strokes and other gratifications, but
with detached involvement. The expectant attitude builds up tremendous
stress and insecurity in one’s psyche.

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Are you Happy or Unhappy? Are you confused? Is there a conflict in
your mind ?

Conflict may be a "normal" part of our lives, it can be tiring. Conflict

can happen anywhere and occurs among even the most "spiritual" of
people with challenging results. What is a person to do???? The
answer may lie in the following story.

The head of a cloistered monastery became very frustrated with the

bickering and conflict among the monks who were in his charge. He
felt helpless in finding a solution to this ongoing problem. One day, he
was brilliantly inspired with the right and perfect solution. Knowing
that behaviors can change if there is a compelling reason to do so, he
called all of the monks together.

He said, "I am so pleased to share this wonderfully exciting news with

you today. I have learned that one among you is a divinely chosen
and blessed being who is one of God's specially selected ministers.
We are so fortunate to have this person among us. I know that each
of you shares this excitement with me." With no further word, he
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turned and left the monks alone.

The monks sat for a moment and looked around at each other. The
puzzlement and then the wonder in their eyes were evident as they
looked to each other for some sign of the "blessed one." There was
outer silence, but each monk experienced similar inner dialog. "I
wonder who it is? Who among us seems most likely to be God's
special being? I wonder if I have insulted the blessed one?..." On and
on went the inner dialog.

The bickering among the monks seem to cease almost immediately

as they did their best not to insult or antagonize the one who was
held in special esteem by God. Since there was no indication of who
the special monk was, all of the monks treated each other with
respect, courtesy, and great fondness.

Weeks went by. The excitement and curiosity abated and the monks
settled down into their usual routine. However, the habit of bickering

had been replaced with the habit of respect, courtesy, and a

willingness to explore solutions to their problems. There was peace in
the monastery.

This wonderful story reflects what actually takes place every day in
the workplace. What if we treated our co-workers as though they are
"divinely special beings" with our motive not being one of fear, but
simply wanting peace in the workplace more than we want anything
else?

When we begin to look at others with compassionate eyes, speak

words of kindness, and think of others with a desire to understand
them, we will begin to change. And, interestingly enough so will they.
What goes around, comes around.

Affirmation:
"Just for this moment, this day, this week, I will look for the goodness
in others, as I look for and celebrate the goodness in myself."