Issue New Policy With Care

“Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.” So no one ate anything all day, even though they had all found honeycomb. 1 Samuel 14:24-25

Saul wanted his army to remain focused on a critical battle. Stopping to prepare food would distract them, so he issued a ridiculous policy about not eating anything, even though there was food readily available.

A more effective order would have been, “Our objective is to keep fighting until we are victorious. Don’t let anything slow you down.”

You have probably issued similar orders:

• “We spend too much on overnight delivery. From now on, nothing goes overnight.”
• “We’re giving away too much margin. Every sale must have a minimum margin of X percent.”
• “I called in and the phone rang and rang before someone answered. Every incoming phone call must be answered before the third ring.”

Obeying snap edicts to the letter can hamper your team’s ability to efficiently meet your goals.

Don’t turn good intentions into big trouble—issue new policy with care.