Jill Christensen
Jill ChristensenAuthor Blogger
Jill Christensen is a guest blogger for EmpowerPoints, an employee engagement expert, best-selling author, and international keynote speaker. She is a Top 100 Global Employee Engagement Influencer, authored the best-selling book, If Not You, Who?, and works with the best and brightest global leaders to improve productivity and retention, customer satisfaction, and revenue growth by re-engaging employees. Jill’s Website | LinkedIn Profile

I read an article by Travis Bradberry, co-author of the best-selling book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0, in which he lays out common mistakes that organizations make that cause good people to quit.

While some rules are necessary, some are not. According to Bradberry, rules tend to exist to halt the outlandish behavior of a few individuals and can alienate your entire workforce. What are some of the worst rules that companies create?

  • The six-month rule: no transfers or promotions
  • Ridiculous requirements for attendance, leave, and time off
  • Restricting internet use
  • Bell curves and forced rankings of performance
  • Banning mobile phones
  • Stealing employees’ frequent-flyer miles
  • Draconian e-mail policies.

Bradberry believes that most of the mistakes are easily avoided. In addition, it should come of no surprise to you that it’s not your low performers who are the first to go. Your best employees are usually the first to go, because they have self-confidence and the most options.

WHAT CAN I DO? The vast majority of these rules are HR- or IT-related, so share this blog with the powers that be in those business units in an effort to educate them. They need to understand that rules and policies often cause employees to disengage and feel micro-managed: two very undesirable outcomes. Your people are your greatest asset. Give them a runway and watch magic happen or give them unnecessary rules and watch disengagement happen. The choice is yours.