Reflective journal Mo4 - Essay Example

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL ON DECISION-MAKING The sum total of human endeavour is all about making choices. However, the scary thing about making choicesis that deciding on one path closes the door to other alternatives, and only after some time has passed do we learn if we had made the right decision or not. If we did, fine. If not, then it’s usually too late to go back and make what in hindsight came out to be the right choice, too late to undo the consequences of what had transpired. A lot of times, we try to avoid making such a mistake.

This is why we sometimes decide in groups, because of the notion that two or more heads are better than one, and what is not easily seen by one person may be seen by others. Sometimes, however, we just don’t want to be blamed for what might be a wrong decision, so it is easier to share the blame with others in a group decision. After all, if several of us agreed to the decision, then maybe the mistake was not that obvious, and therefore I, as one of the decision makers, won’t look too ridiculous for making it.

But there are decisions, I know, that I alone could make: what career to take, whom to marry, where to work, what would make me happy. If I were a manager, then there would be decisions the company would expect me to make personally, due to shortness of time or lack of resources. There may be consultants, or techniques such as the SWOT, which could help me to decide by clarifying issues and gaining a balanced perspective on the problem. However, I will have to find the courage to make the decision by myself, with due care, but in due time.

In the end, if we aspire to be managers – of businesses, projects, people, even of our own lives – then we must face the task of decision-making with confidence and competence. We must develop the skill of sound and rational deliberation based on the information and time available. There will always be a risk of being wrong, but being wrong is better than being indecisive.