What Are Speed Limits For?

Rules keep a certain sense of order. They allow us to go about our lives without concern whether someone else is on the exact same page as we are...about safety, education, health, morality and so on. They also create fairness, a level playing field for everyone to work and play within.

Of course, we could choose to impose the rules on ourselves without being told to do it, without imposed consequences. But, we wouldn't, at least not equally. All of us have different views on almost everything...part of the uniqueness of being human. Our culture, our experiences, our education have shaped us to think a certain way...no matter the provable truth.

The challenge isn't whether to obey the rules or fight them, but to help make them better...especially for someone else.

Lead change, what a wonderful choice we get to make. Choose wisely.

Overruled

Often, the rules aren't even a consideration. It's a display of power and authority used as a shortcut to get what we want.

A better approach might be persuasion, where all ideas are considered, even for just a moment.  It's a skill worth practicing if the goal is to achieve a culture of inclusion, and better outcomes as a result.

Selfish or selfless. Choose wisely.

It's Our Policy

The great thing about policies is they create consistency. The bad thing about policies…you guessed it…they create consistency.

Rules are great for maintaining order and to keep people from harm and being cheated. But they aren’t so great when the goal is to delight someone. Most people aren’t looking for a scripted output…they'd rather see a performance that’s made just for them.

Rules

Rules are good for a lot of things...keeping airplanes and cars apart, managing kids at school, getting people paid on time, etc. But, as much as they make things orderly, they can really hamper your chance of being remarkable, especially in hospitality. This was the scene at a local shopping center at 10 AM. Out of camera range were five other similar congregations...just waiting to get in other stores. Guess what time this store opens, yep...10 AM. So, does it make sense for a shop keeper to keep a group of people waiting outside in the heat until the rules say it's time to open? Of course, not. It makes more sense to welcome people as they arrive, even a few minutes early, invite them in, offer them a cool drink and allow them to browse while you get the register fired up. That's what a shop keeper who's livelihood depended on every customer would do. Problem is...not many of them around. But, plenty of clerks following rules.