In the epic Mahabharata, Bhishma (Devavrata) took the vow of lifelong celibacy and service to whoever succeeds the throne of his father – King of Hastinapur, Shantanu. Thus sacrificing his ‘crown-prince’ title and denying himself the pleasures of conjugal love.
He took an immediate required Decision and the context was father’s happiness.
Who knows what future has stored in! His brave and bold decision turns out to be fatal. His step mother, Satyavati, gives birth to 2 children who die without leaving a successor. The Hastinapur kingdom is now without a king. Satyavati comes to Bhishma to break his vow and get married or have union with the 2 widows of his 2 no more son’s.
Bhishma refuses saying, that he has taken one decision and now he will stick to it no matter what.
On one hand, you see integrity and on the flip side, the decision taken long back has brought negative consequences.
What we learn from this story is as an organization we need to take decisons quickly with a context thats empowering and that takes the game forward. Decisions taken today may turn out to be complete opposite over a period of time or in another circumstances – could be internal or external. Context of the existence, survival and growth of the organization keeps changing So changing the decisions at right time is also utmost necessity. And not to take short-sighted decisions!
If you do not change your decision making instinct with the context, prepare for a storm, prepare for the “Mahabharata”.
