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The secret of making decisions – part oneBy: Boniface O. Mouti This week I want us to reflect on how we make decisions. Making decisions in our lives most of us will agree that it is the most difficult thing that we have to encounter on a daily basis. Woe to you if you are in leadership position. In many instances we ask others to make decisions for us concerning personal problems. Personal problem solving is a do-it-yourself operation. When people give you advice and say "you should do this" or "you shouldn’t do that", actually what they are doing is passing judgement based on second hand knowledge and hardly on facts. In normal circumstances this adds up to second hand opinion which is worthy very little. It is important not to allow others to diverge the decisions you make. Whatever the views expressed by other people keep in mind that they are putting forth opinions. Base your decisions on facts and never allow yourself to be swayed from the truth by secondhand opinion. The opinion of others are never a safe guide. When making crucial decisions always make sure you surround yourself with pertinent information that will assist in your final judgement. Have some time to understand the problem. If other people are able to bring you facts and figures, pay attention to them, weigh the consequences, look for distorted facts, then make your decision and stick by it. Whether the decision is right or wrong you will only have yourself to blame if the outcome turns out to be unfavorable. However, the most important thing is you will have made up your own mind. It is no lay man’s work to make decisions. It takes considerable amount of courage and uniqueness to solve problems and make important decisions, as every individual who applies at the leadership counter finds out. If one is readily willing to confront problems intelligently, and draw your own conclusions and make clear-cut decisions, you are showing the mark of a self power. The ability to make effective decisions is an absolute necessity for those who want to become leaders. It is one thing to be able to make a decision, but acting on the very decision is quite another thing. Those who actually can’t make a clear mark line or are neutral on the kind of decision that they want to make rarely achieve happiness and success. These are the people who cannot seem to make up their minds about anything and in most cases end up losing. No one would deny that it takes a great deal of inner strength to make decisions on personal problems, events and circumstances and then act on the decisions that have been made. Decision making cannot be avoided. If you wish to experience a normal existence then you must be prepared to face up to problems and situations, courageously decide on a definite course of action, then stick with it. Next week we shall continue on decision making
and try to evaluate different levels to making effective decisions.
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