Send me your worst company rule and you could win $50.00 cash and a signed copy of Celebrating Failure.

Rules, designed to control workers from doing the wrong thing in the workplace, usually inhibit the way we think and do far more harm than good.  I made a change in my investment strategy recently and my investment adviser insisted I sign a form acknowledging the non-conforming nature of my ways.  I would explain my high-risk move but I fear boring you to death.

Investment types are particularly good at establishing CYA rules like the example above.  Yet how many investment experts that worked with Bernie Madoff took note that in ten plus years he never had a down year, nor did he ever purchase a single stock.  And yet no one said, “Hey wait a second, does any of this make sense?”  Rules tend to make you stop thinking and focus on stuff that doesn’t take any real thinking.  Rules are often a reflex reaction by leaders who want to control workers.  Rules are inevitably set up for those who never follow the rules anyway.

And workers take the bait by believing they will be safe if they simply follow rules from the leaders. And in this economy, with tenuous job security, who doesn’t want to follow the rules?  But use my own brain to look at what is happening all around me and then use my own common sense to ask the right questions and make an intelligent decision…we need to encourage more independent thinking and less rule following.

Great leaders should gather all of the “rules” their company has made over the years and get rid of as many as they can.  It will encourage people to think and do the right thing before they take action.  It will demonstrate to the work force that you trust their judgment over a rule that was made who knows when or if it applies to a situation today.  Weak leaders will make another rule in hopes they can somehow control the work force.

Heard any really bad company rules lately?  Send me your worst company rule and I will award $50.00 cash and a signed copy of my new book, Celebrating Failure, to the single worst idea I receive.  Post your worst rule in the comment section of my blog or if you care to keep your identity private, send them directly to me at Ralph@RalphHeath.com and I will post them discreetly maintaining your, and your company's, anonymity.  Please be pithy.  Other than that there are no more rules because rules inhibit creativity.