Your Rules of the Game

I read some interesting stuff the other day which really hit a chord with me and the growing Bright7 team. It was all about what makes a workplace great.

One of the points was about having simple ‘Rules of the Game’ to reduce waste and make expected behaviours clear. I don’t know about you but the word ‘rule’ is a bit like the word process, conjuring up something that will block and stifle people. But the article summed it up like this…

‘Rules allow systemisation without bureaucratisation. When organisations systemise, people know what the rules are for; when they bureaucratise, the rules seem to have no function’.

In ‘my speak’, it’s like the difference between McDonald’s simple, logical and repeatable systems, and the form-filling, tick-boxing paperwork for paperwork’s sake of the likes of ISO9001.

So your rules, like your systems, should say to your team ‘this is how we do things here’ because our way:

• is in the interests of our Customers
• helps our business grow
• builds a place where people want to work.

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Netflix have a simple rule, ‘Act in Netflix’s best interest’. Simple, clear and constructive, saying to employees that they should use Netflix’s money with the same care as they would their own.

How many of us at work accept standards at work that we wouldn’t accept at home?

I loved that mantra of Netflix, it gives people a simple authority to make the right decisions. It’s so in tune with how we want to work at Bright7, and how we encourage our clients to work - give your team simple systems, and give them ownership to do what they think is right for their customers.

We’re great believers in KISS ‘Keep it Simple…. Systems’ (we would never call you stupid!).

Do one thing: Take time now to check out our Simple System 'How to create your first simple, logical and repeatable system'

ps Check out your rules too. Do they support simple systems or are they rules for rules sake?

For more information on how MPL can help you visit www.mariannepage.co.uk or contact me on hello@mariannepage.co.uk
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