When helping clients draft IT policies for their Employee Handbooks, I often find myself torn between two approaches. One part of me wants to detail every aspect of the policies, while another part wants to simply say, “Do the right thing!” This tension highlights the different methods of policy writing: one that specifies every detail and another that provides a broad vision of right and wrong, leaving room for common sense.

A recent incident in the CrossFit community illustrates this tension well. My oldest daughter, a competitive CrossFit athlete, participates in the CrossFit Open, an annual global competition held over five weeks. Each week, a specific workout is released with defined standards. In one workout, athletes had to perform a “bar over burpee,” jumping over a bar loaded with weights. Typically, this bar has standard-sized plates, but one group sought a competitive edge by using smaller plates, making the bar lower to the ground. They received approval from a regional director, but CrossFit’s policies require approval from headquarters. Consequently, CrossFit HQ ruled the modification violated the standards, imposing severe penalties on the group.

This sparked a social media debate, with valid points on both sides. The athletes followed the letter of the law and sought approval, but they didn’t get it from the right authority, thus violating the spirit of the standard.

As leaders, we often oscillate between detailing every step and giving broad directives like “get it done” or “do the right thing.” Both approaches can lead to misunderstandings. The key is to convey our intentions clearly while providing enough detail to ensure those intentions are understood both conceptually and practically.

At JNR, we strive to balance these approaches. We aim to provide clear, detailed policies that align with our overarching vision, ensuring everyone understands both the specifics and the broader goals.

If you need assistance crafting IT policies that strike the right balance between detail and vision, please contact us. We’re here to help you create effective, comprehensive policies that guide your team while allowing for common sense and flexibility.