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Let’s Cancel Annoying Workplace Rules

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Summary

The article discusses how AT&T was able to save $186 million annually by cancelling 459 annoying workplace rules. It provides a structured framework and safe environment for people to question and cancel rules that slow down productivity and breed a repressive environment. The technique involves using virtual or physical sticky notes and a whiteboard to draw a matrix, labeling the vertical and horizontal axes, and then giving everyone 30 minutes to identify the rules that need to be cancelled. It also encourages people to think in terms of red and green rules, with red being government-mandated and industry-regulated, and green being all other rules. The article encourages people to reward those who find ways to simplify their daily work beyond rule-cancelling sessions.

Q&As

What are some common workplace rules that are frustrating and slow down productivity?
Examples of common workplace rules that are frustrating and slow down productivity include "four approvals are required for one hire", "expense reports are mandatory for $5 purchases", "Internet use is restricted or forbidden", and "ban on ChatGPT usage".

How did AT&T use anti-complexity measures to save money?
AT&T used anti-complexity measures to save an annual savings of $186 million.

What is the technique for cancelling annoying workplace rules?
The technique for cancelling annoying workplace rules involves gathering teams, giving them 30 minutes to identify as many annoying rules as possible, writing or typing each rule on a physical or virtual sticky note, and placing it on a matrix according to how easy it is to cancel and how much impact its elimination will have on the business.

How should rules be categorized when cancelling them?
Rules should be categorized as either red rules (government-mandated and industry-regulated) or green rules (everything else).

What are the benefits of cancelling annoying workplace rules?
The benefits of cancelling annoying workplace rules include increased productivity, a safe environment for people to question the status quo, and the ability to identify rules that are not formal policy.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides an effective and simple framework to help teams identify and cancel out annoying rules that can be restrictive and stifle productivity.

👎 This article fails to provide any examples of the types of rules that are typically identified and canceled out, which makes it difficult to understand the impact of such rules.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about canceling annoying workplace rules. It talks about how AT&T canceled 459 rules and saved $186 million, and how other companies can do the same. It suggests a structured framework and safe environment for people to question the status quo.

Friend: Wow, that's really interesting. It almost seems too good to be true.

Me: Yes, it does seem too good to be true. But it's definitely worth a try. It's a great way for companies to save money, foster creativity and innovation, and increase productivity. It also encourages employees to challenge the status quo and be more proactive.

Action items

Identify any rules in your workplace that are frustrating or slowing down productivity and create a list of them.
Create a matrix on a physical or virtual whiteboard to categorize the rules according to their impact on the business and ease of cancellation.
Lead a discussion with your team to vote on which rules should be canceled and take action to eliminate them.

Technical terms

TFW: “The Feelings When” - an acronym used to express an emotion or sentiment.
Expense Reports: A document that records the cost of business-related expenses.
Whiteboard: A board used for writing or drawing on with markers.
Matrix: A two-dimensional array of numbers, symbols, or expressions, arranged in rows and columns.
Sticky Notes: A small piece of paper with a re-adherable strip of glue on one side, used for attaching notes to documents or other surfaces.
Facilitator: A person who helps a group of people understand their common objectives and assists them in working together to achieve these objectives.
Keynote: A speech or presentation that sets the tone for an event.
TedX: A series of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.
Subscribe: To sign up to receive regular updates or publications from a website or other source.
Editorial Standards: A set of guidelines for the content of a publication.
Corrections: A change made to a published article or document to correct an error.
Reprints & Permissions: The process of obtaining permission to reproduce or reprint a published article or document.