The Law of Avoided Decisions – Choices vanish while leaders hesitate.
John once asked for a decision.
The Boss called for more input. The Strategist proposed reframing.
The Diplomat praised the discussion. The Vanisher missed the meeting entirely.
Six weeks later, the question was obsolete.
The Boss called it “strategic patience.”
From The Footnote Archives:
- Meetings ended with promises to “revisit the topic.”
- Progress updates circled the same conclusions.
- Notes grew longer while direction grew blurrier.
- Decisions dissolved in “niceness” and follow-ups
Observed Pattern Across Seven “Urgent” Decisions
| Decision | Date Raised | Date Required | Date Made | Outcome |
| Vendor selection | Feb 9 | Feb 14 | Never | Vendor withdrew |
| Budget allocation | Jan 12 | Jan 31 | Never | Funds reallocated elsewhere |
| Headcount approval | Dec 3 | Dec 15 | Never | Candidate accepted another role |
| Platform choice | Nov 8 | Nov 30 | Never | Default chosen by IT |
| Launch date | Oct 2 | Oct 20 | Never | The competitor launched first |
| Org structure | Sep 7 | Sep 30 | Never | Status quo by attrition |
| Strategy pivot | Aug 1 | Aug 15 | Never | Market shifted, question moot |
Decisions requested: 7; Decisions made: 0; Consequences acknowledged: 0
Performance Review Excerpt — John’s File
Area for Development:
“At times exhibits impatience with the decision-making process.
Would benefit from greater comfort with ambiguity and trust in leadership timing.”
Evaluator: The Boss
Johnny called it what it was:
Choices vanish while leaders hesitate.
He further underlined the line that mattered: Indecision takes root when watered by consensus.
Johnny’s Footnotes is a satirical instrument, infused with humour, for understanding organisational dysfunction, grounded in The Anatomy of Nonsense, also known as the Grand Unified Theory of Bullshit, finally documented so you no longer have to pretend it isn’t happening.
Meet John’s Colleagues. They are here (& almost everywhere).
Disclaimer: The Footnote is a satire — an observation, not an accusation. If it feels uncomfortably accurate, that’s just coincidence. You’re simply not important enough to be targeted.
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