More Guidelines, Less Rules
Most organizations have a rulebook: an employee handbook or HR manual - a list of very specific do’s and don'ts.
You know what you won’t find in a rulebook? You won’t find trust, leadership, accountability, and decision-making. In fact, most rules are written to guard against the possibility of risk and harm committed by a very small number of people in an organization. And yet, those people and teams that meet and exceed expectations are saddled and burdened with the same rules that weren’t actually created for them. It’s fortunate that we have a business leader like Kevin Kruse to share insight on an alternative way to navigate the confinements of rules and regulations. In our book read this month, Kruse sheds light on several approaches to leadership in his book, Great Leaders Have No Rules.
Kruse includes a plethora of impactful quotes from many of today’s thought leaders to level-set his position on what really matters in leadership. It was a personal delight to see several quotes from my favorite basketball coach and leadership guru, Coach K, head coach of Duke University’s men's basketball team. When speaking about rules, Coach K stated, “Too many rules get in the way of leadership. You become an administrator of rules rather than a leader.” Additionally, former Netflix HR executive, Patty McCord (you should also read her book, titled “Powerful”), believes that if organizations put more time and effort into their hiring practices instead of spending time and money reinforcing rules, leaders could shift their focus to training high-character employees, leading teams that demonstrate shared accountability, and building strong cultures. A rewarding pivot to more guidelines, where employees can make informed choices based on company values, standards, and expectations, would communicate trust, respect, and empowerment to make the best decisions, because “every rule takes away the opportunity to make a choice” (Bill Erickson).
Leadership is tough (if you’re doing it right), there’s no way around it. And, many of us believe that rules make leadership easier, but it doesn’t. In many instances, it does the exact opposite. Therefore, when appropriate, let us contribute to the growing cadre of leaders who are willing to accept the responsibility of leading with clear expectations, and fair standards that are connected to the mission, vision, and values of the organizations we work for, own and operate, and partner. More guidelines, less rules.
Quote for Growth
“The higher the quality of your workforce, the less likely it is that you’ll need rules.”
Book of the Month
Video of the Week
Less Rules, More Character