Message of the Day - When policies implode.

Good Morning,

 

I remember hosting a party at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. The base had some pretty tough security, as it should. I was being driven in early because I had to help set up. The person who drove me in was from Philadelphia and worked for the government, with her own ID on her car window. When we reached the base entrance, the car was scrutinized and our ID was checked. We were then cleared after a few moments and continued to part. This part was fine, I felt safe.

 

Then I saw the car behind us, filled with some of my friends. Neither of whom worked for the government or had any military ties. They were basically flagged to go right through the checkpoint. The guard with an M16 waved them through within a few seconds of seeing their handicapped placard hanging from their rear view mirror.

 

My feeling of security wavered.

 

It’s interesting to think this scenario through. The handicapped placard did not have a higher level of security than that of the person driving the car I was in. She even held a security clearance. Yet it had an easier time going through security. It appeared to be a loophole of sorts.

 

It is possible that the rules to keep the base secure were met with rules to accommodate the handicapped, and boom, a loophole appeared in the standard operating procedures of the base.

 

This brings up a good point.

 

Do we have rules in place which also have exceptions or loopholes which basically undermine the very point of the rules themselves? Like allowing handicapped placards through a security checkpoint even though there could be danger within? Or my pet peeve, using Roberts Rules of Order in small organizations where the procedure is basically crushing the ebb and flow of the group.

 

Worse yet, are their policies with so many exceptions that the exceptions by their sheer number, become the norm? I bet there are, especially in some of the older organizations which have not taken the time to update their rules and regulations.

 

Why and how these exceptions come about is a topic for another day, but suffice it to say, we must take care to ensure that in our zeal to help all of our stakeholders, that we do not nullify the purpose and benefits of our organization with special ‘exceptions’ to the rules.

 

I am sure the security at Annapolis knows their stuff and what I saw probably was not what it appeared to be, but it does make for an interesting moral.

 

And that is to keep our policies from imploding.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg

Sanford@berenberg.net

http://www.berenberg.net   

http://learnandgrowdaily.com ß Click here to order: “Learn And Grow Daily!”

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/

502-533-9336

 

PS: If you know others who may enjoy this message of the day, please pass this message on or invite them to receive them themselves by sending a request to me. If you wish to stop receiving these, please also let me know. Thank you!!!