Rules – Know Them. Challenge Them. Rewrite Them.

The Two Types of Rules

Every organization has two types of rules:

1. Written Rules – Policies, SOPs, handbooks, etc. They offer structure but can become outdated or overused.

2. Unwritten Rules – Cultural norms, informal expectations, power dynamics.

Unwritten rules often have more influence than the official ones.

Leadership Begins with Awareness

Start by asking:

- What rules govern how we operate?

- Which enable us?

- Which restrict us?

Most systems aren't broken by accident—they’re designed that way.

Story: The Rule That Crushed Innovation

In a healthcare org, innovation failed not due to bad ideas—but bad rules. Seven approvals for new ideas. Fear of speaking up.

We cut approvals to three, rewrote expectations, and launched programs that cut readmissions by 20%.

Three Leadership Postures Toward Rules

1. Respect the Rules – Uphold rules that protect ethics, safety, fairness.

2. Challenge the Rules – Re-evaluate outdated or harmful ones. Ask: 'Would I create this today?'

3. Rewrite the Rules – Align them to the vision, culture, and mission.

The Rule Audit: Your Practical Tool

1. List top 5 written rules you use often.

2. Identify 3 unwritten rules with your team.

3. Choose one rule to challenge this month and act on it.

A Personal Rule I Had to Rewrite

My internal rule: 'Real leaders don’t ask for help.' It made me overextend and isolate. I rewrote it:

'Real leaders bring others in to fill the gaps.' That shift made me better in every role.

Leadership Is Always a Game of Rules

Your ability to lead is tied to the rules you recognize and reshape. You can’t expect people to take bold action in systems designed to keep them quiet.

Final Takeaways

1. Rules are real—even the invisible ones.

2. Leadership respects what works, challenges what doesn’t, and rewrites what must.

3. If the rules don’t match the mission—it’s time to change the rules.