Policies or Principles

Policies or Principles Effective policies and procedures are essential for all organizations. It is important to document them and create consistent behaviors that align with these agreed practices. However, some schools have handbooks that are hundreds of pages long and cover every detail, while others have much simpler models that work just as well. It is worth considering why this is the case and whether or not certain policies may be holding us back.

Policies that limit original and innovative thinking can be detrimental to an organization. When staff feel like they have no input or ownership in decision making, they may feel like they are being controlled by bureaucratic rules that restrict their ability to be creative and unique in their approach to work. This is especially true in education, where staff often need to adjust their practices based on the needs of their students or the context they are in.

Too many rules can also make it difficult to get things done. Yves Morieux states that "too often, an overload of rules, processes and metrics keeps us from doing our best work together." Rules also tend to isolate us and prevent us from feeling empowered to innovate and collaborate. When policies are created without input from stakeholders, they may not be enforced consistently, leading to confusion and difficulty in achieving compliance. It is better to have no policy at all than one that is not being followed in practice.

Traditional rule making may also be off-putting for younger generations of workers. While baby boomers may prefer clear, firm policies, millennials and Generation Z may prefer to bend or break the rules rather than follow them strictly. They may feel that policies restrict them and require a particular course of action, making the workplace less flexible and less effective.

Fear can often drive the creation of excessive policies. However, it is important to remember that policies do not inspire passion. Instead, vision, mission, and leadership are key to creating smooth and productive organizations. When faced with challenges, it is important to consider whether a new policy is necessary or if the problem can be solved in a different way. Responding to every issue with a new policy can lead to unnecessary bureaucracy and prevent teams from turning crises into opportunities.

In international schools, where there is often a high turnover of staff, it can be difficult to maintain consistency in vision and mission. One solution is to provide new staff with an induction manual that reflects the behaviors that align with the core vision and mission, and to regularly review and update policies to ensure they are in line with these goals. It is also important to involve stakeholders in the creation and implementation of policies to ensure buy-in and compliance.