Rules Don’t Work

As a leader, do you sometimes find yourself thinking:

• Why are they taking so many coffee breaks?

• How do I know that they’re actually productive while working from home?

• How am I supposed to manage the budget when everyone is spending too much?

• I’d like to give my people flexibility in working hours, but how can I make sure no one misuses that freedom?

You are not alone.

Anyone in a position of leadership often bumps into the hassle of, well, having to lead people. Especially when things don't go according to plan. And we’ve noticed that many leaders respond to frustrating situations by imposing rules. After all, rules are the way to correct and modify unwanted behavior, right?

The conflicting truth about rules is that the more they're enforced, the less likely they are to be followed.

Why? Because imposing rules tends to imply that the person in question doesn’t know how to behave when left unsupervised, which can create an unhealthy dynamic, much like a parent (rule-imposer) vs. child (needs-to-be-corrected) relationship.

So what’s the alternative? Because surely, you’d still like your people to be more respectful of timing when taking coffee breaks. You’d still like to make sure that they are productive while working from home, and be mindful of the budget when eating out on the job.

Next time you find yourself with similar challenges, consider the following approach:

• Ask yourself; Is everyone taking too many breaks, spending too much, being unproductive, or is it just a few people?

• Engage in candid conversations with those contributing to the problem. Provide constructive feedback and set clear expectations.

• Hold individuals accountable for their actions — without assuming a parental role.

By addressing issues directly and offering guidance rather than imposing rules, you avoid punishing the entire team for the actions of a few. This way, you foster a more positive work culture ànd increase the likelihood of changing the unwanted behavior.

Good luck!