Reference 

Slides S1S2: Subjectivity & Decision Making

Neurosciences Western Psychology

Finding The Space To Lead

This course is about preparing for your

journey as leaders, in this complex and
fast changing world
By building the meta competencies of:
Awareness and Mastery over one’s
inner landscape
To strengthen your decision making
process with minimum coloring and
distortion
Wisdom Traditions Management
Research has shown that reflection boosts
productivity. Yet few leaders make time for
it. Why?
1. Don’t understand the process “Reflection gives the brain an
2. Don’t like the process of opportunity to pause amidst the
slowing down
chaos, untangle and sort through
3. Don’t like the results
observations and experiences,
4. Have a bias towards action –
Soccer goalies/penalty kicks consider multiple possible
5. Cannot see a immediate ROI interpretations, and create

Courage . Heart meaning.”

https://hbr.org/2017/03/why‐you‐should‐make‐time‐for‐self‐reflection‐even‐if‐you‐hate‐doing‐it Courage . Heart

Courage . Heart Courage . Heart

This material has been prepared by Dr. Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be reproduced, 
used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr. Surya Tahora.
 Reference Slides S1S2: Subjectivity & Decision Making

What do you observe?

Sessions
1,2 :
Subjectivity
and
Decision
Making

Courage . Heart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFb2xnLD8kk Courage . Heart

Evaluations Observations and Evaluations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFb2xnLD8kk&t=159s LiesbetBickett.com Courage . Heart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFb2xnLD8kk&t=159s LiesbetBickett.com Courage . Heart

This material has been prepared by Dr. Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be reproduced, 
used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr. Surya Tahora.
 Reference Slides S1S2: Subjectivity & Decision Making

Subjectivity ? 1. What kind of

Hard work does not decisions will you
pay .Life is not fair. make ?
 Seeing things in a manner which is not in Corporate sector is 2. How will you feel ?
unethical. Ambition is a 3. Correspondingly,
keeping with what is.
bad thing. Being what are the likely
selfish is the only way. body sensations ?
 It is not that the data is false , our mind has 4. What actions are
My boss / this you likely to take ?
put on a selective spotlight and we are organization are
convinced that our experience is true and unfair.
factual. It is the basis of reaction He must have been
networking/politicking
 Based on our past experiences &
environment - interpretations , assumptions, I worked hard but
he got a
judgements , evaluation ,fears , anxieties
promotion
,personal beliefs ,biases.
Mr A , my
colleague got
 Impacts our decision-making process and the promotion
effectiveness in this world
Courage . Heart 9 Courage . Heart

Examples of conclusions and beliefs Autopilot and Decision Making

 It is not ok to talk about my achievements (selfish people speak about

themselves)
 If I do a good job people should notice (my work should speak for itself) Event Body sensations Thoughts Emotions Needs Decisions Actions
 Networking or leveraging relationships is not good ( it is using people )
 When I am given credit it is better to turn the spotlight on the team Outcomes
(false modesty) “When you are on autopilot you are not of action
really thinking about this situation , this
 Asking for clarification may show I am incapable. I will always work hard moment , this challenge , or the specific
and figure it out myself . response it requires . You are just reacting
in a way that has become comfortable for
you over time.” Marshall Goldsmith

Courage . Heart Adapted from Mindfulness in 8 weeks by Michael Chaskalson Courage . Heart

This material has been prepared by Dr. Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be reproduced, 
used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr. Surya Tahora.
 Reference Slides S1S2: Subjectivity & Decision Making

OBJECTIVITY Cognitive Distortions

Thinking or patterns of thought that are biased in some way wherein our
 The ability to observe with minimal mind convinces us of something that isn’t really true.
projections , bias or judgment.
 Accept that we are subjective  Interpretation : exaggerated/selective filtration of evidence
beings  Expectations : rigid , unreasonable
 Become aware of our subjectivity  Evaluations : harsh, unfair
 Recognise our behaviour and
habits which are not serving us any
more
 Accept them ( rather than deny ,
justify , blame , feel foolish /
ashamed / small )
 Consider and explore fresh
responses and possibilities

Courage . Heart 1976, psychologist Aaron Beck , 1980s,David Burns Courage . Heart

 I wasn’t able to understand this topic, I’ll never understand this subject .
 When I tell my husband some work , I conclude in my mind that he is going to
definitely forget as always and in advance prepare myself for questioning him.
 Never talking to strangers on a flight/train because of a past experience where
such an incident had left a distasteful memory.
 When I witnessed one of my male colleague shouting at a female colleague at
my workplace, I tried to intervene but to no avail. Then I happened to be
subjective about it by stereotyping “All men are dominating.”
 Based on my past experience with a relationship, I had decided never to have
one.
 Asking for clarification may show I am incapable. I will always work hard and
figure it out myself .
 He did not even mention me and took all the credit . I will never trust/ help
anyone again.

Courage . Heart Courage . Heart

This material has been prepared by Dr. Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be reproduced, 
used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr. Surya Tahora.
 Reference Slides S1S2: Subjectivity & Decision Making

 Thinking I will not succeed while taking up on a new task – I tend to fixate on all the things
that can go wrong and that hinders my capability to do the job well.
 One day, my husband called me from office and said that he will be home in half an hour.
After an hour, I called his no , it switched off. I called at his office number and his colleague
said he left an hour back. I called my dad , then my neighbour in panic , thinking of the worst.
A short while later my husband reached home and told me that he met an old friend of his in
the parking lot of the office and kept on talking and did not realized that his phone was
switched off.
 Recently I had dry cough which takes time to heal. I mixed this symptom with corona and got
anxious which impacted my mental health. Even after the consultation with doctor, I was
thinking negative. I got relaxed only when my cough subsided.

Overestimating the chances of disaster.

Expecting something unbearable or intolerable to happen. What if it happens …..
Courage . Heart Courage . Heart

Binary - good bad- success failure-

either or

i) Either I withdraw or I am aggressive

ii) Either I trust everyone or I doubt everyone
iii) Everyone must like me or something is not ok with me (need for validation )
iv) Either I do it perfectly or I avoid taking up a task
v) If my husband does not agree with everything I say I feel rejected
vi) When my boss does not allocate resource to a project I suggested I think he is
biased
vii)Either I can be arrogant and boastful or I keep quiet about my achievements
viii) Either I am perfect in everything or I am not good enough
x) If I cannot be in total control , I resign and take a back seat

Courage . Heart Courage . Heart

This material has been prepared by Dr. Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be reproduced, 
used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr. Surya Tahora.
 Reference Slides S1S2: Subjectivity & Decision Making

The error of Either – Or

AND

Courage . Heart Courage . Heart

 One time my manager at work organized a quick meeting to have a word with me, I assumed
it would be to scold me for something I did wrong, turned out he was assigning me a new role
in the team and a better one. But the amount of energy I spent to spiral on the negatives was
just not necessary.
 One day I was not able to find my diamond ring while my maid was working at home, I
assumed that she might’ve taken it and I was about to sack her because of that. Thankfully
someone found it in the other room before I did that.
 Being a mother to a 6 year old son, there is an assumption that it is easier to parent girls, they
are not trouble makers.
 When I was working in L&T, some people used to work in second shift up to 11:30pm. While
leaving for the day at 6, I told my subordinate to complete the task and send it to the clients
sitting in the US. When I came in the morning, I could not see any email regarding the
delivery. I called that guy and blasted him. Later, he told me that he had a word with the onsite
engineer and he had asked to hold the project.
 Once I was travelling in a flight and the girl sitting next to me didn’t talk or say hello to me. I
thought that she must be very arrogant and not friendly but later when she asked for some
medicines, I realised that it was because, she was not well and I assumed it in a completely
different way.

Courage . Heart Courage . Heart

This material has been prepared by Dr. Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be reproduced, 
used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr. Surya Tahora.
 Reference Slides S1S2: Subjectivity & Decision Making

 I can’t get this equation right. I am so stupid.

 He did not show up , he is not trustworthy.

 My team could not finish this project on schedule , they are useless.

 ‘She did not submit her assignments on time, she is irresponsible.’

 What a silly lady! She didn’t offer them warm refreshments during the
party.

Courage . Heart Courage . Heart

 We must always kind

 I should be able to control my
emotions
 My spouse should ….
 I shouldn’t make mistakes
 I should not get too close to …  Mom should ….
 I should never be subjective  My child should ….
 I should always be there for my  My friend should not….
child
 I should not disobey my elders

Whenever my two kids are playing and happen to have dispute, I tend
to shout at my elder one without knowing who initiated that situation.
For me my younger one is always small and the elder should take
care ( but the fact is both are grownups and anyone can be playful
and mischievous ).
Courage . Heart Courage . Heart

This material has been prepared by Dr. Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be reproduced, 
used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr. Surya Tahora.
 Reference Slides S1S2: Subjectivity & Decision Making

Subjectivity and Decision Making

 As a teenager, one of my closest friends in school suddenly stopped talking to me after
returning from a vacation. I assumed she did not want to be friends with me due to
something I had done. Eventually she shifted to a different section the next year and I
moved out of the school due to my father’s transfer. Many years later when I got in Event Body sensations, Thoughts-Emotions-Needs Decisions
touch with her, I found that the issue had been due to someone else who had created a Miscommunication Headache
between my Restlessness
misunderstanding between us and not something I had done .If only I had clarified with
manager and me Heavy chest Coping
her at the time, the issue may have been sorted out at the time itself.( regret , blame) which resulted in a Working strictly 9-5 Actions
 “You did not call back . Is it because of something I said ? lot of duplication of Became less
work proactive
 The note from my child’s school says he is having difficulties at school . Am I a bad
parent? • He never discusses and later blames everything on Binge eat
me (frustration – communication, inclusion) Withdraw
 In any meeting , if someone suggests improvement to my answer I take it that other Increase time on
person doesnt like me and I don’t feel like answering again whereas the fact may be he • He’s an awful boss to have .The only work he has is social media
to discuss and that also he can’t do ! (annoyance –
is really improvising my answer but I take it personal and react in a way which is neither clarity)
good for me nor for my team.
• Will this impact my appraisal ? (uncertainty- security)

Courage . Heart Adapted from Mindfulness in 8 weeks by Michael Chaskalson Courage . Heart

Needs - necessary to live a healthy life

Courage . Heart Courage . Heart

This material has been prepared by Dr. Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be reproduced, 
used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr. Surya Tahora.
 Reference Slides S1S2: Subjectivity & Decision Making

How do you know you have unmet needs Pair Work – Recognising your trigger signs

Courage . Heart Courage . Heart

This material has been prepared by Dr. Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be reproduced, 
used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr. Surya Tahora.