RULES VS. PRINCIPLES — 8 Big Differences
- Rules tell you what you can and cannot do while principles provide guidance on what you should do.
2. Rules do not change when situations change while principles allow for change.
3. Rules drive compliance under threat of penalty while principles internally motivate you to do the right thing.
4. Rules intentionally require no thinking or judgment while principles purposefully call for thinking and judgment.
5. Rules are driven by a lack of trust while principles are based on trust.
6. Rules are rigid and exceptions are difficult if not impossible to handle while principles are flexible (within bounds) making exceptions easier to handle.
7. Rules are developed to control risk while principles are developed to manage risk.
8. Rules work best in stable, predictable environments while principles work any environment, including disruptive, uncertain, and unpredictable ones.
In Part 2, we discuss how mindsets and context drive the choice between rules and principles. #thinkdifferent #employeeengagement #employeeexperience
