Katharine Giacalone Corporate Nanny Prince William SHRM Beyond Being the Policy Police - Creating and Communicating Policies that Really Matter April 2, 2014
Agenda This workshop focuses on: Assess your Playground Personality and begin to understand the words and actions that impact others Flawlessly communicate with managers and staff to get beyond that s the policy when consulting on the Employee Handbook content Match your Employee Handbook to your Company s culture
Let s brainstorm Talk to your neighbor about the policies you find in your Employee Handbooks today. Identify 5-10 common policies. Let s share!
Most Common Handbook Policies 1. Equal Employment Opportunity 2. Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation 3. Leave Administration (FMLA) 4. Overtime, Meal Breaks, Rest Periods 5. Time and Attendance 6. Workplace Conduct 7. At-Will, Discipline and Discharge 8. Substance Abuse and Testing 9. Electronic Communications 10.Disability Leave (ADA)
Just for fun Let s talk Why do managers/employees question the Handbook policies? How do you react when a policy is questioned in the Handbook? Do you see yourself as the Policy Police? Why or Why not?
Being self-aware is key! What type of kid were you on the elementary school playground? Talk at your table groups.
How do you see yourself? I: 1. 1. Need to make sure all is ok 2. Collaborate with everyone 3. Need to build trust 4. Appreciate communication 5. Am loyal to my staff and company I: 3. I: 2. 1. Like to manage by scheduling 2. Create and use timelines 3. Am extremely dependable and reliable 4. Am decisive 5. Sometimes nitpick the issues I: 4. 1. Am seen and heard 2. Am action-oriented 3. Fun to be with 4. Hate routine 5. Like to be in the moment 1. Value education, intellect and competence 2. Operate from my gut 3. Am seen as the subject matter expert 4. Like to offer my opinions 5. Think I know it all
Who Am I?... Those kids you met on the playground years ago are grown ups now, but not too changed! Meet Peacemaker Organizer Revolutionary Steamroller
Introduction of Playground Personalities 1. Peacemaker 2. Organizer 3. Revolutionary 4. Steamroller
Peacemaker Peacemaker focuses on people & smoothes the rough edges. Peacemaker acknowledges & validates others and may go out of their way to help others at the risk of sacrificing their own needs. Peacemaker demonstrates great integrity and loyalty, doesn t like conflict so may need to develop a thicker skin!
Organizer Organizer is motivated by getting things done, efficiently and early! Schedules, timelines, processes, and traditions are the Organizer s bread and butter! Organizer is reliable and dependable, expects others to be the same and becomes impatient when they aren t.
Revolutionary Revolutionary sees policies and procedures as impediments to getting things done and would rather be flexible and in the moment. Actionoriented and gregarious, the Revolutionary is fun to be with, but it can be hard to corral that energy into a timely and measurable outcome!
Steamroller Steamroller can bowl you over with a thousand ideas and overwhelming creativity. Reining in the Steamroller may be a management challenge, but the Steamroller will be the go-to person when you need a fresh perspective on any problem.
HR & Playground Personalities Peacemaker Keeps the peace; is the gatekeeper Organizer Keeps the company out of litigation Revolutionary Steamroller Keeps all the company s issues spinning Keeps the company s philosophies & beliefs alive
HR & Policy Police Peacemaker Policies protect people in the company Organizer Policies keep things by the book Revolutionary Policies aren t cookie cutters Steamroller Policies protect the culture of the company
Break Golden Rule Treat others as you would have them treat you. And replace it with: Communicate with others the way THEY would like to be communicated with, not how YOU like to be communicated with!!!
Who s Who? Apply the formula: Application + Observation + Listening = Accurate Assessment of Who s Who
Application Peacemaker Needs to make sure everyone is okay Revolutionary Hates routine and prefers to act now and ask for forgiveness later Steamroller Values education, intellect & competence Organizer Lives by scheduling, timelines & lists
Watch Closely Peacemaker Polite; makes definite eye contact Revolutionary Organizer Gives clear examples; is exact Steamroller Vivid responses; may even tell a joke Complex answers; tells a story
Listen Up! Peacemaker I feel Organizer I think Revolutionary I don t like Steamroller I believe
Let s take a look at this scenario Who s Who? What are some of the clues that Miss Davis conversation with Sheldon wasn t going to be productive? Any suggestions to change up the dialogue?
Playground Personalities & Rules Peacemaker Rule Follower Organizer Rule Maker Revolutionary Rule Breaker Steamroller Rule King/Queen
When Managers Approach HR Peacemaker With sincerity & hope that things will work out Organizer Like the company historian Revolutionary Like a game knowing he/she wants a work around Steamroller With research, probably from other companies
How HR Responds to Managers Peacemaker Will try to accommodate the request Organizer Will not want to entertain an exception Revolutionary Will bend the rules Steamroller Will take request under advisement
How can HR change-up their responses? y can: Tap into their motivation for action Avoid using words that disengage them Listen to the words they use Be open to the request doesn t mean accommodate!
How can you motivate Peacemaker Policies have to be fair Organizer Policies have to be logical; make sense Revolutionary Policies have to be short & clear no legal-ese Steamroller Policies have to be meaningful & purposeful
Identify Your Company s Culture Cultures range from: Let s make a deal to clock work Talk to your neighbor about your company s culture What did we learn?
Company Culture Peacemaker Kind and nice Organizer Highly structured Revolutionary Wild West Steamroller Competent
Communication Ideas & Company Culture Peacemaker Conduct a focus group or round table Organizer Call a formal meeting Revolutionary Have a contest; make it fun & interactive Steamroller Send an email with a link to the Handbook
Back Home What are You Going to Do Differently? What are you going to keep doing? What are you going to stop doing? What are you going to start doing? Let s share!
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