Decision making; an essential of leadership

Can one escape decision-making?

The lines of Robert Frost in his famous poem The Road Not Taken

“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler,”

struck me and I wondered why we can’t ever escape decisions in our life. We would postpone deciding, but there’s no way we could escape it. Decisions break the monotony in life; every time one makes a decision, it changes the direction of our life. Yet, thinking about the losses and gains of our own decisions, we always try to choose what is more advantageous. Still, depending on circumstances, it could always bear one, not the gains he/she wished for. However, we have to take responsibility for the decisions we make on our own. Thus, decisions play a crucial role in our lives

“We are the choice we make”

– Patrick Ness-

Is there something called a ‘right’ decision?

If decisions play such a crucial role in our lives, we can’t fool around and make bad decisions, right? We always need to choose wisely. Yet even though we make decisions that feel right, can we accurately weigh down the pros and cons of a decision? Is luck synonymous with the right decisions? Are there so-called decisions as ‘right’? In my belief, there are no right or wrong decisions in our lives for us to make. Yet, we should stick to our decisions and work along so that their results will show us whether the decisions are right or wrong. Therefore, our individual responsibility and discipline make the decisions ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.

Are all decisions made only for one’s sake?

Apart from individual decisions, we sometimes need to take decisions on behalf of a team or a community. The decisions taken by leaders will represent the choice of the majority of his/her teammates, even though it would not be the decision chosen by everyone.

If we explore the darkest chapters in world history, we see ineffective decisions as root causes for the unfolding gruesome events. Why Germany started the 2^nd world War? Is it the decision of the whole German community? Who ordered the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Was it the wish of all Americans?

Accordingly, leaders play a crucial role in making decisions on behalf of his/her followers. Knowing the significance of decision-making for a leader, AIESEC provides its members with ample opportunities to improve this skill. AIESEC expects its membership to act sustainably, whose defining elements are to make long-term decisions and manage resources sustainably. Thus, sustainable decisions guarantee the betterment of the present conditions and the right of future generations.

Written by

Pavani Premarathne

Lead Journalist

AIESEC in University of Kelaniya