On Pesky Little Rules

So let's say you make a decision. You put a lot of thought into the decision and you are comfortable with it. After making and implementing the decision, you later discover that there is a rule (for lack of a better word) that indicates you probably should not have made the decision that you did. You made the decision because, all things considered, it was the right thing to do. Yet, the decision was not consistent the rule.

What do you do?

Question the Rules

Decision makers that always defer to the rules, without question, are falling down on the job. The compliant rule-follower in me appreciates the foundation and guidance rules can provide and knows well that doing what's right may absolutely mean sticking to the letter of the law. However, that is not always, or often, the case. As decision makers, we get to spend a lot of time operating in the gray. Heck, if everything was black and white, we would not have any decisions to make. How boring!

The challenge for HR decision makers is to question the rules. Why? We cannot provide the service the organization or our customers expects or add the value we expect if we don’t. So before you blindly change a decision because of a pesky rule, take a closer look at that bugger and ask a few questions:

• Does not following it jeopardize safety?
• Does not following it violate a law, statute or something else legal?
• If not for the rule, would you be questioning the value of your decision?
• If not for the rule, would you make the same decision for a similar situation?

Do What's Right

There are differences between a course of action that violates a statute or creates a precedent you don't want to set and one that requires a change in the way things have been done or breaks new ground. We need to be able to distinguish between the two.

With each and every decision you make, you have an opportunity to make a difference.

So back to the decision you made to later find out it was not consistent with a rule. You ran through the questions and determined that the decisions does not jeopardize safety, does not violate a law, you are not questioning the value of the decision, and yes, you would decide the same in a similar circumstance. 

What do you do?

Question the rules, do what's right and let it go man, just let it go.

Comments

[Stress Management Training Mark]

I'm standing at the side of the road with a friend from Singapore. We are waiting for the lights to turn green so we can cross. There are no cars for a mile in either direction. There is no danger if we cross but my friend wont let us. So we wait and wait until I realise the lights are broken and literally drag her across the road as she protests that it's not right.

Personally I'm from a personal and national culture (Irish) which habitually breaks rules. I'm inclined to see red lights as "advice for other people" and am not likely to obey a rule I didn't agree to or help make. This isn't necessarily wise either.

Rules exist to serve people not the other way around.

All the best from Brighton,
Mark
http://integrationtraining.blogspot.com/

[Trish]

I agree. Although at times it can put you personally in the crosshairs, I think the best course of action is going with your gut and making the decision you think is "right" based on the facts you have about the situation. Well written post Lisa!

[HR Good_WItch]

I'm with you! I consider most HR rules to be guidelines. People-issues are just way too individual to have rules that consistently work.

I think it's important to not be cavalier about it, of course. Give real good thought to why the rule is there, what it is intended to accomplish, what makes this situation different, what will be the negative consequences of breaking the rule, who needs a heads-up, etc etc.... then, go ahead and break the rule.

I think we learn a great deal this way.

[Lisa Rosendahl]

Mark, I can relate to your friend from Singapore!
Hey Trish and HR Good Witch, Yes! So much of what we do is thoughtfully weighing the benefits and risks and hope we chose wisely more times than not :) Crossing fingers and toes can help!

Thanks for visiting and commenting!

[laurie ruettimann]

LET IT GO.

Brilliant, as always.

[Martin Snyder]

Well this discussion is as old as politics and law. Is an unjust law one to be followed ? Most Americans would say no, but that's not a universal response.

Rules generally have one of two purposes: to protect the rights of some from being abused by others, or to entrench and maintain certain power relationships among people. The former and the latter, having different objectives, also present different issues to those who may wish to run afoul of them for one reason or another. A tough moral choice is when one person or group's rights must be abused in order to prevent greater abuse of another person or group.

The truth is that every adult has to be their own moral agent; don't step on people's rights as you go thru life and you won't have to worry about the letter of the hundreds of rules that surround all of us.

Rules can be the glory or bane of humankind- its all in the execution.

[RMSmithJr]

First, the bromides.

1. Rules are made to be broken.
2. As Marcus Buckingham says, "First, Break All The Rules."
3. Life isn't fair. If you want fair, go to one in the fall.


Rules evolve forward through the natural process of continuous improvement. Some unique situations require a one-off deviation that does not necessarily create a precedent. So, beyond your prescribed standards of safety and compliance, read between the lines, assess the situation at hand and always, AlwayS, ALWAYS do the right or best thing.