Safety in Not Doing Anything

This is a famous mantra followed by senior Govt. officers , head of an organization. They have been following this all through their life , for some young generation they are role models.

What it means is not making decision when it comes to , just because you do not want to get caught in after effects of making wrong decision

Let me share an example with you

The decision to purchase Advance Jet Trainer or AJT was taken 30 years back by Indian government, the AJT was required to train our pilots prior to taking up MIG and other advance fighter jet fleet. From then till now our pilots have died like flies when they are directly put on the MIG series of Jets. For 30 years no: of Defense ministers and Chief of Army staff have come but nobody could dare to sign for a particular brand/country specific model.

One more eg voters turnout in Mumbai this year is less than what it was last in parliamentary election , these are the same people who were the driving force behind over production of candles because of rise in demand after 26/11.

Let us look around us , in our organizations , many of us have worked day and night on projects and when it goes to our seniors to be forwarded to Management, the bucks stops there , on asking you are given reasons which are way beyond cerebral reasoning ( I was asked to read preamble of the constitution – will you believe it)

For years I see people around me who have climbed the ladder (along with me) by not doing anything, they are happy doing regular pen and paper work , if you ask them what important they have done , they have nothing to share.

You all may remember the decision taken by a Judge of session court saying “ A healthy woman cannot be raped by a single man alone” . The decision was rejected and criticized by Supreme court doubting the Judge’s capability to deliver. Nothing happened after that , the same Judge is still working. Supreme court do not want to decide on the fate of that Judge.

I do believe that it is very important to imbibe a culture where decision making is encouraged no matter if the decision made falls flat. As much as I am aware employees in Google and Microsoft are encouraged to make decision ( the only Indian company I can recall is NIIT ltd) The country is plagued by the old Government culture of 70s where no one wants to do anything and will not let anyone do anything.

West Bengal in our country is a classic eg of this. The place is thirty years behind Bangalore and will continue to remain so because old generation feeds new generation the same value.

Finally when I was discussing the value of decision making with my Sir , he was prompt in saying “ Do not worry , the decision to fire you will be taken immediately when it will be required”