Xoria, Hoddie, Virus and Elgato: As usual much Wisdom and eloquence prevaileth!
Unfortunately there is no other way. Conduct permitted is conduct endorsed.
People tend to 'go with the flow'.
If the 10% get away with anything, it is perceived by the masses as acceptable and becomes a norm.
Our company recently had to staff up by over 100 people. Although I was excited at the growth, Nightmares came with bigger numbers.
Herewith the things I have learned as a leader:
A small group can be left to manage itself with very few rules and policies. It actually gets rid of abusers and slackers organically because the 'majority' are more like a family protecting it's property, values and future.
Things change drastically when you deal with larger numbers.
I have had to change my Cell number because the 'family' dynamic does not work anymore, My open door policy became a liability to myself and the company, I can no longer be accessible to everyone, I simply would not get any work done!
Thus Policy is the new authority.
Rules and policies are indeed a blanket that cover the whole and restrict the freedoms of the 'innocent'.
BUT
They restrict the power of manipulators, abusors and diplomats in such a way that even if they gain any kind of power, they are still subject to the laws that govern the whole!
Rules may be there because of a mere 10%, but if left unchecked, that 10% can bring an entire community to it's knees and move on to destroy the next one all the while blaming the community for it's own destruction.
I have no desire to please such people. As a matter of fact, I brand them and list them so that their next employers are aware of their divisive tactics.
Funnily enough:
Those who would flourish in the 'family' setting, flourish just as well in the policy setting. Their primary drive is the good of the community and their attitude is almost always 'do what you can with what you have at your disposal'.
The gripers, abusers and violators are an unfortunate standard - the problem lies squarely with their psychological inadequacies - They battle with insecurities like we all do but choose to vent their weaknesses on the rest of us. They will only change under threat of rejection, severe consequence or they will leave to find a path of less resistance - easier prey if you will.
Policy will only allow those who add value to bend it's parameters.
Rules are a means to an end. Those who uphold that 'end' with their actions and attitudes will usually end up having priveledges beyond the rules.. ironically those who abuse them end up being at the mercy of the very 'limiting' parameters they originally attempt to circumvent.
It is only those who violate the law who need fear it...
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