Familiar Patterns

Do you have policies and procedures in your company? If you are like many companies, you do. Have you ever thought of those policies as a ball and chain hampering your creative ideas? Then ponder this...I am going to suggest something radical - consider doing away with one or two in favour of an exploration into life without them or make significant changes to give them a new twist!

When employees tell me they can't do something that they believe will be beneficial for both their company and the employees, because of a policy that prevents them, I remind them that the polices and procedures they are following were conceived and crafted to suit the business at that point in time.

Many policies and procedure that are steadfastly followed in organizations are seldom re-visited or challenged. People assume they are cast in stone and not open to revision. I wonder where that idea stemmed from.

I remind people time and again that they are always available for review. They should be read with fresh eyes every year or two and with two overarching questions in mind
Does this serve us as we do our business today? and
Does it reflect the culture we wish to create?

If not, then revise them and post the changes so employees know the leaders are looking at everything that guides the way their business is run, how their people are supported as they work and that staying current is important for success.