Make decisions worth sticking to
The Influential Leadership Advisory
Decisions worth sticking to require critical thinking, credible information and objective processing.
From GiGo to TiSo!
Where we are
The 2025 Leadership Notes comprise a series on how to make resolutions (decisions) stick:
- Note 01.25 advises of the necessity to set a strategic end-goal—the ‘why’ and what’ of the decision.
- Note 02.25 sets up the imperative of action, to take the first step towards the end-goal.
- Note 03.25 takes a step back to prise open the question of what defines a decision.
- This week (Note 04.25) we follow up with the primary content of an effective decision—critical thinking.
TiSo: Thoughtful in—Successful out
The term ‘garbage in, garbage out’ (GiGo) was coined some 66 years ago, by computer programmer George Fuechsel.
While the phrase has its origins in the digital domain, it is not a new principle. For example, a much earlier expression from the 16th century has the same essential meaning—it is impossible to turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse.
Whether we apply GiGo or any other acronym, the principle establishes that in any system, including human decision-making processes, the quality of the output is determined by the quality of the input (and processing).
Every human with a gram of reason knows this principle. However, knowing does not imply we do what we know. Doing is the hard part; it is effortful and so all too often what we know is left undone.
The evidence of this knowing-doing-gap is easy to spot, from everyday matters to the substantial; in our own lives and all round us.
The encouraging news is that it need not be so if we follow a proper process. After all, smart decisions are for our own benefit too!
The Ingredient of a Successful Decision (Resolution)
We focus on the single most important ingredient to make effective decisions.
Be thoughtful—think critically through the entire process:
- Up front: Rationalise the reasons why you want to make the resolution, what the decision is meant to achieve and what you need to do to see it through—to make it stick.
- Information: Appreciate the nature, sources and content of information needed to guide your decision-making. Solicit comfortable and uncomfortable information from multiple sources.
- Processing: Be open-minded and apply reason-based information processing. Avoid intuition, hunches, tarot cards and echo-chamber options.
- Choice: Process objective information to obtain multiple options that arise from the process, sift them, look for strengths and weaknesses. Choose the best (the most likely to achieve the end-goal).
- Stick to it—see it through: Be firm and resolute with the final choice, keep in mind that it must be made to stick.
Thoughtful in, Successful out (TiSo)
The Influential Leadership approach to GiGo is the positive phrase—Thoughtful in, Successful out (TiSo).
Yes, we want our resolutions and decisions to stick, but we must start with smart decisions.
So, start with a smart decision-making process to ensure that time-after-time you make effective decisions that stick, that serve you and others.
Whatever your decisions might be this week, from the everyday to the life-shaping, make great ones that stick.
Regards,
Colin @ Karoo
Influential Leaders make smart decisions!
Leadership Note # 0425 | 270125
e: colind@karoo.world
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