|
I was on the hunt for a sharp kitchen knife—and I found it. While I’m not thrilled about losing the tip of my finger this weekend, the good news is that it will grow back. Phew!
It was a painful ER visit, and I won’t be typing at full speed for a while, but in return, I came away with plenty of ideas to write about. When life gives you lemons… well, you write about them (with a commitment to always use a cutting board moving forward).
In case you’re curious, here’s the culprit: https://a.co/d/7OEQdFz. It’s sharp, serrated, and deadly—Swiss precision at its finest. Now, watch me connect this incident to policies, and let me know what you think!
After failing to stop the bleeding on my own, the ER staff went all in. They threw everything at my finger, including a nurse with hands twice the size of mine pressing down on a gauze pad like it was a championship match. The room got a little dark, I moaned internally (but never screamed), and eventually, I asked for some pain relief.
The doctor’s empathy was comforting. She explained that since I’d driven myself, they couldn’t give me strong pain medication on the spot, but they might be able to send me home with it—if the nurse approved. She said she didn’t mind bending the rules herself but needed the nurse’s buy-in.
This puzzled me. A doctor asking a nurse for permission to help me with my pain? And the rules being discussed didn’t even seem to apply to the doctor, just the nurse?
A few minutes later, the doctor returned to say, “Sorry, rules are rules.” They’d have to send a prescription to the pharmacy instead. I was handed some over the counter Ibuprofen and sent home.
Initially, I wasn’t happy. But as the Ibuprofen kicked in, so did clarity. The problem wasn’t the rules themselves—it was the lack of clarity and consistency. Rules should be universal, not up for discussion or subjective interpretation. The doctor should have respected the nurse and avoided involving me in a conversation that could jeopardize her colleague.
At Chat Tech, we don’t deal with life-and-death situations, but this scenario mirrors a common issue in many businesses. Policies (or lack thereof) often lead to confusion and unnecessary risks. Businesses hesitate to create rules because they feel restrictive or punitive, but not having them can be far worse.
We frequently see our clients’ team:
• Store passwords stored in plain Word documents.
• Keep important project files on their computers instead of the shared folder.
• Make promises to their clients that can’t be delivered on.
The list goes on, and the consequences can be costly.
What if, instead of avoiding policies, we took ownership and refined how the ship sails? Defining responsibilities, rules, and policies equips every team member with clarity and avoids unnecessary conflict. This doesn’t have to be a massive project. Start small.
Begin with the last incident you wish hadn’t happened. Document what you learned, share it with your team, and create a simple policy around it. Over time, build a shared space for these operational guidelines and encourage your team to review and contribute regularly. When everyone knows the dos and don’ts, your team is better prepared to help clients or colleagues without hesitation or confusion.
Need help getting started? Let’s talk! We’ve put together over 20 policy recommendations specifically for creative businesses, tailored to address common gaps and risks.
And yes, I’ve since learned my lesson. The cutting board is now non-negotiable when slicing lemons.
Be well,
|
