In many organizations and projects, it is easy to get caught between two extremes: visions and goals. Visions can be inspiring but are often too abstract to help us make everyday decisions. Goals, on the other hand, are concrete, but they can be so specific that they don’t work when something unexpected happens.
Simple Guiding Principles (SGP) fill the gap between vision and goals. They are clear, simple, and guiding principles that help us make decisions, even in new situations. When we are faced with a challenge or opportunity and neither a vision nor a goal feels relevant, we can lean on our SGPs to feel confident that we are doing the right thing.
What are Simple Guiding Principles?
SGPs are concise, memorable principles that provide guidance without being restrictive. They should be broadly applicable and serve as a compass when we navigate the unknown. Here are some classic examples:
- KISS – Keep It Simple (Stupid)
If something feels complicated, choose the simpler solution. We humans have a tendency to overcomplicate things, but often the simplest way is the best. - Be Nice
Rumors and conflicts can color our perception of others, but being nice and treating others with respect opens doors. This does not mean that you should accept everything, but that the starting point should always be kindness. - La Familia
We are at our strongest when we take care of each other. If people are not feeling well, they cannot contribute fully. Prioritizing well-being and community makes us stronger together.
These principles are short, clear and useful in different situations. For example, if you find yourself in a difficult situation without clear instructions, you can think:
- Is this the simplest solution possible? (KISS)
- Am I nice and constructive in how I communicate? (Be Nice)
- Do I take into account how this affects the well-being of the group? (La Familia)
If you can answer “yes” to these questions, you can feel confident in your decision.
When and why are Simple Guiding Principles needed?
In an organization or project, situations often arise where no one really knows how to act. Maybe the managers are unavailable, maybe the instructions are unclear, or it’s a completely new situation.
If an employee receives an urgent request from a customer but doesn’t know whether to say yes or no, a vision may be too vague and a goal too specific. But by following a guiding principle like KISS, they can choose the simplest solution. Or by Be Nice, they can ask for more time in a nice way, which keeps doors open.
It’s not about making the decision easy – it’s about the person making the decision feeling confident that it follows the organization’s guiding principles.
How do you create your own Simple Guiding Principles?
For principles to be useful, they should meet the following criteria:
- Maximum of 5 – too many principles become difficult to remember.
- Simple, short and clear sentences – they should be easy to memorize.
- Broad enough to work in many situations – but not so abstract that they become fuzzy.
- Preferably linked to a story or example – to make them more vivid.
Some examples of other SGPs that may fit depending on the context:
- “Collisions are good” – If we create meetings between people, ideas and new opportunities arise.
- “Live as you learn” – If we have a message for others, we must live by it ourselves.
- “Fail fast, learn faster” – Dare to test and fail fast to find the right solution faster.
Another good example of a clear guiding principle is “A man on the moon before 1970”. It was a vision, but it also contained a guiding principle that created a focus on the fact that doing was important and that it was permissible to test and ask for help because the solution was what was important and achieving it was above prestige and who did what.
Why you need Simple Guiding Principles
Visions can be too vague. Goals can be too specific. Simple Guiding Principles provide us with flexible yet clear guidance when faced with unexpected situations.
By having a maximum of 5 simple principles that everyone understands and remembers, we create a culture where people can act with confidence even without detailed instructions.
So the next time you think about how your organization, your team, or your life can become more self-directed and effective, think about which Simple Guiding Principles you need.
They can make the difference between uncertainty and confidence – between hesitating and actually taking action.
