The Difference Between Rules That Restrict And Rules That Empower

What does it mean when policies, rules, and expectations are designed to restrict employee actions? What does it mean when they are designed to empower employee actions?

In this episode of Know the Difference, we are going to explore the key differences between restrictive and empowering rules of the workplace that control the choices, options, and behavior of employees.

In many workplaces, there are formal policies and guidelines, as well as unwritten and unspoken expectations and rules that govern employees, their work, and their behavior. These exist in every workplace and are one of the largest factors that influence the employee experience.

The problem that some workplaces can run into is with the underlying philosophy that these policies, rules, and expectations are built on.

Let’s start by first defining Rules that Restrict and Rules that Empower.

Rules that Restrict tell you what you CAN do. Limiting the options you have or putting restrictions on your actions and judgement.

Rules that Empower tell you what you CANNOT do. Eliminating certain options, but leaving everything else is on the table.

A good way to think of their difference is the expectations many managers have on what good work looks like. Some managers think and say that work CAN only be done at your desk, from nine to five, with your mind only on what is in front of you. This is a restrictive expectation. Where other managers think and say that work CANNOT be over X budget, miss Y deadline, and use more than Z resources. So as long as you stay within those limitations, what the work looks like is up to you.