Capturing the decision making moments vividly

The for-and-against arguments for a decision making processes are forgotten later when things become routine. I am in the middle of a crucial decision making and let me pen down my thoughts for future reference. It is the decision about accepting the project manager role in MyGov Assam in the salary range they offered.

When Kuldeep Da and Mukunda Pujari Da informed me 18 L against my wish of 22 L, I was disheartened. But their body language was positive and I was optimistic too. Later they came out and told 19 L as final. I was 50:50 that time. Many things were running in my head (including the Flipkart offer) and I took a day to think.

At the first interview hall, with Himalay

I was in such a circumstance where none could advise me. Himalay was happy with 16 L and continuously pressurizing me. When told to Jahid Da, his body language was very submissive. Of course, that offered number was a figure many would crave for. Although I need some guidance, I did not find anybody whom I can share all these things. I thought of Amit Jain, Ishan, Manash (I did call him), but didn’t attempt. I was all alone and that was a terrible feeling. 

The bus journey from Ghy to Agia gave me ample time to think. I was able to come towards some concrete position. First position I took was to come out of 50:50 and be 90% ascertained about joining the role even in that salary. I almost decided. Now, the question remains- how to communicate? Should I just tell I am OK or should I make a last effort?

A.      Points for making last effort:

1.       The recruiting committee might have agreed on 20L since I communicated to both Pujari and Kuldeep Da via text while they were negotiating. This might be their trick to increase by 1 L, and if I walk out, increase by one more.

2.       Even if they don’t increase, last attempt will make them feel guilty and I will be on advantageous/dominating position.

3.       Although I told my salary is 15L currently, I have no proof to show that now. The guilt feeling of last attempt might make them agree to my 15L logic without complaining.

4.       I will carry the repent of ‘not asking more’ if I don’t make a last effort. Something that I could have while negotiating with NeGD if I were in a better position. Today, I am certainly in a better position to negotiate.

5.       Flipkart’s signal with 25 L package is a big diversion for sure

6.       The annual increase is only 5%. I have to do my health insurance by myself now. After MyGov Assam, searching for an India centric job might be difficult.

7.       ‘20’ is a better looking number than ‘19’. Rahul earns 26 (Meanwhile, heard Rahul is leaving since secretary left MeitY).

8.       MyGov Assam does have money to offer. It is just that my current salary is low.

9.       What’s the point of learning negotiation if I am not putting that into use?

B.      Points for not making any last effort:

1. No effort gives impression that I am committed for the cause of serving Assam, and not after money
2. I have to work with the same set of people; repeated asks for increase might irk them and have bad impression on me
3. They might react very negatively to my quoted 15 L figure justification and do something very bad
4. If they agree to my request, I will be in a non-negotiating terms, at least for next six months. Pujari, Jahid Da, Himalay etc might behave in a non-cooperating way as well.
5. There might be absolutely no way available to Kuldeep Da for any increase. If that is the case, it might make Kuldeep Da frustrated, who is going to be my manager.

The whole bus journey I kept thinking about the points and was not able to decide on whether the last effort to be made or not. I thought a good night’s sleep with bring fresh thought. Just after reaching home, I was pleasantly surprised by looking at the reaction of Maa, Bhini, Sukrya Da, Radhe Khura (he brought cake as well), Bhaiti Da, apart from Dada and Moina. Instantly I confirmed my earlier decision that I had to return to Assam for sure at whatever salary is given.

Still, A4 and A9 kept pushing my thinking process alive. 

Next morning, I decided to send an email to Kuldeep Da by 9-30 AM, so that he can discuss with the officials during office hours and get me a final thing by EOD. I brought the concept of ‘not money, but symbolic gesture’ in the email. Just before sending, Himalay called to inform about Kuldeep Da’s apprehension of me not joining for the role. Hewith his usual dialogues again forced me to accept the offer. Seeing me helpless, Maa intervened.  It was the conversation with Maa, two great points came up.

In simple language, Maa rightly told- Kuldeep and these people might not aware of the fact of hard negotiation which I am trying to do with my Oxford experience. So, he and his team might consider this negotiation process a bad precedence. [Oh, I seriously need a HR for doing negotiation].  Her second point – if I already decided to return, inform my decision to Kuldeep first, and then put forward the last request. Your ‘effort’ bit will be displayed by that email itself.

Mothers are wisest!

I modified the email accordingly. I started the email by conveying the decision that I am joining the team. Then I wrote about the logic of 19 and 20 in the light of symbolic gesture. I am sure any wise man will think thrice after reading the email.

--------------

It is 3-09 PM now (29^th June) and I still have not heard back from Kuldeep. I have no hurry as well. Let them take time, decide and come back. I am fine whatever reply he gives about the requested salary figure.

With people at BBQ, Guwahati

Let me write about some other things currently playing in my mind. I am yet not been able to decide how I should communicate the message to Premjit and Sunil Sir. They are very nice people; leaving them just before GCCS would be like putting them in a helpless situation. The logistic issues such as advance of rented place, the furniture, fridge etc are haunting me too. For the first time, I am feeling sad for leaving Delhi. One big fear is also there- I have never loved Guwahati (in fact, I hate Guwahati for the pain it causes to me during plus 2 years). Will I be able to break this emotion? Will the exclusivity of Manjit Nath go away by living in an ‘ordinary’ Guwahati? How will I deal with political minded people like Dipjyoti and Abhjit Das? Will buy-in of Himanta be required? What is my political ambition bubble bursts and result in complete negative? How to handle Himjyoti, Jhulan and also Himalay ? What if I become a failure with such lot of expectations from everyone?

The whole of second day passed without any response from Kuldeep Da. I conveyed to Himalay and others that I said yes. However, I did not do any follow-up because I was not going to take any steps until Monday. I prayed God to give me the strength to take a balanced decision. While praying I remembered the lines by Bruce Lee in the poster at Manas’s cubical: “Don’t ask for an easy life; ask for the strength to endure the difficult one”.

30^th June Saturday: I was not thinking anything until I saw a forwarded message from Kuldeep Da in the morning. I took the opportunity to enquire about my email to him. After 5 minutes, I got a call from Jahid Da.

Jahid Da started with a serious tone. It seemed Kuldeep Da called him to finalize discussion with me as he (kuldeep) was not able to decide the action items post my email. As I wrote earlier, even though I started my email with a big Yes, the email would make anyone give a serious thought on fulfilling my request. 

Jahid Da diverted my attention to two important points:
a. The recruitment committee is of the opinion that I might leave the job when I get a good opportunity. The more negotiation would led to the confirmation that I want to come just for money purpose and any good offer from outside would take my enthusiasm away
b. The more pitching from Kuldeep Da side will raise questions on the integrity of Kuldeep Da. It was Kuldeep Da v/s the whole recruitment team  aka political appointee v/s bureaucrats .

The two points are quite genuine. I made up my mind and informed Jahid Da accordingly. Putting Kuldeep Da in a fix will not do any good to me. In any case, I have already achieved what I wanted to do by that email. Hence, the loop can be closed now. The committee has not given any flexibility on 19 or 20; rather, Kuldeep Da needs convene the committee members once again to make them agree on 20. There is high chance that Kuldeep Da will be able to do this; but this difficult path taken by him (as well as by me) will raise multiple questions.

After the conversation with Jahid Da, I saw a whatsapp message by Kuldeep Da telling he tried his best and this time, it is 19 L only. I replied “Not a problem, let me know when should I join”. He became very happy; I also felt relieved. First Kuldeep Da told I might be getting the appointment letter by Monday and I would resign on that day. But later he told the formal letter might not come before 10th July.

In this way, my last attempt to negotiate ended. It is 40.74% increase from my last salary. Enough! Anyway, money making has never been featured in my todo list.