Going to the limit

When banks agree to work with you, they set out very precisely the limits to which they will support your activities. Some companies set credit limits with their customers, some do it more formally than others.

When you go over the limit, you get called in, "You have gone too far, get back within the limit".

What is the limit?

This is the concept of boundaries. People like to know the boundaries within which they are allowed to operate. And if the boundaries are fairly set, they will normally be respected and people will act responsibly. Together with the setting of the boundary, it is necessary that it is policed in the case that it is exceeded: a boundary which is not guarded is ineffective.

Limits which are too tight will stunt motivation and creativity: and if too loose they will permit irresponsibility. The right place represents the right level of discipline – imposed and self-created.

Procedures and people

As a manager of people you will have noticed that some people are constantly looking for new ways to do things; and some like to follow established procedures.

It is ironic that the people that love to write procedures are the ones that have the most difficulty to follow them.

On the other side are those who believe that there is a "right" way to do things: it is better not to suggest to these that they should break the rules!

So on one side are those who physiologically have a problem following the rules, and on the other side those who demand to have rules in place. The job of the manager is to find a system that works for both groups!

Rigidity versus Flexibility

The key is recognizing that too much rigidity and standardization is not well accepted; while flexibility can empower the individual. Maybe rather than rules, the answer is guidelines.

But guidelines can only work if there is an underlying framework of values to be applied, the responsibilities are clearly communicated and the boundaries are policed. When one goes over the top, it is important that it is picked up and acted upon - "You are over the limit, what is happening".

Do you encourage your people to work close to the limit? Are you be happy when you have to review the boundaries to give people a larger "credit limit"?

Nigel works with people in business who want to do more with less – to make a greater contribution with less effort – to be more themselves with less holding them back.

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