At some point, you have to have policies and procedures. It’s usually because there are a lot of people to manage and it’s easier to point to a set of rules than it is to effectively communicate the desired outcome. It’s certainly easier than going through a complex hiring process to find good people.
And of course, we are people and we don’t always get along.
I remember counseling three employees who were at odds with each other. They wanted me to issue a decree that defined how everything was supposed to turn out. I replied by saying I could do that…create a new rule, but it would come with a price. That rule would apply to everyone regardless the circumstances and I assured them that in the long run it would be a net negative. In the end they took my advice and worked it out.
Before you make a policy, question why it’s needed. If you bump into problems with a rule or policy, question why you have it. Is there another, better way to solve the issue? And above all, don’t resort to creating a rule that affects everyone just to get out of dealing with a specific situation with specific individuals.
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