As leaders, we must constantly rise and make difficult decisions that could strongly impact the organisation, people, and the business. A good decision is taken from a place of absolute clarity. Once a decision has been taken, irrespective of how difficult it is, the leader needs to implement it.

There would be some barriers that could come in the way of a good decision.

 

1. Strong Emotions and Dependencies:

As leaders many times we fall in love with our creation. It could be a product line which we initiated, it could be certain people in the team whom we’ve hired and more.

Many times the emotion is so strong that we fail to see the reality. This could create strong dependencies and muffle clarity completely.

In the Ramayana, it’s interesting how Dashratha loves Rama so much that any thought of separation causes immense anxiety and he completely loses his balance. This happens twice in the epic, first when Vishwamitra seeks permission from Dashratha to take Ram to fight the rakshasa’s and the second time when he has to send Ram to the Dandaka forest to keep his promise to Kaikeyi.

On the first occasion, he loses his balance and gets completely blinded by emotions until Vasithata doesn’t intervene and prevents him from making the wrong decision.

On the second occasion as soon as Ram leaves for the Dandaka forest he dies as he couldn’t fathom and accept this reality.

The point is, when your emotional dependency is so strong that your very survival is at stake it’s impossible to make just decisions and lead skilfully.

A leader is someone who despite whatever happens on the outside needs to be equanimous and maintain complete control. This requires a certain level of personal mastery, self–awareness, and self-work.

2. To Please Everyone:
Many times we hesitate to decide as we might have to displease a certain group of people and could come across as harsh. Many times we want to be liked by all and avoid conflict at all costs and this could be a major impediment to inaccurate decision-making.

When Yudhistra was invited to the game of dice; he did not decline the offer. Instinctively he knew this wasn’t right; however, he wanted to keep up with the Kshatriya tradition and not displease anyone; additionally, he was also fond of gambling.

The outcome of this invitation was the war, bloodshed sorrow, and end of the clan and it stemmed from wanting to be nice and avoiding conflict.

Every decision has consequences and one needs to be completely aware of this.

 
3. To be on both sides of the fence:
When we make a decision we need to choose one particular side. It’s impossible to be on both sides at the same time. To choose one side means accepting consequences completely and fully by taking responsibility and ownership irrespective of the outcome.

As Krishna was going towards the battle of Kurukshetra he was stopped by a gentleman who was keen to participate in the war and passed a test set up by Krishna.

Krishna was truly impressed with his archery and was spellbound.

He then asked him a question; which side would you support and he replied to the losing side.

Krishna tells him he would want him to behead himself. The point being, if he would support the losing side it would turn into the winning side, and then he would change parties and continue to help the losing side. This would lead to the death of everyone and no result in the war.

It’s imperative to choose one side and take total ownership irrespective of consequences. As a leader, you can’t be on both sides of the fence.

 
4. To have mastery over your thoughts and emotions:
The chance to fall off the cliff is very high if you’re on the edge of the cliff; any incident can push you down. However, if you are in the centre and sitting on a firm foundation it wouldn’t be easy.

This takes a lot of self-work, and mastery and involves the leader to continuously work on self. Coaching could be a powerful tool on this self-discovery journey.

In the Ramayana as the entire palace is lit and celebrating a day before Ram’s coronation to become the king; Dasharatha calls Ram and informs him to leave for the Dandaka forest on exile. Ram with complete calmness and composure and no reaction at all bids farewell to his family and quietly leaves.

Ram is an example of a great leader and is worshipped as well primarily because he however difficult and trying the situation gets he remains unfazed and cool.

This is possible when the interiority or the inner space is so strong that however difficult or trying the external situation may get it doesn’t really matter.

As leaders, it’s imperative to grow and build self from within.