Simple Human Resources Rules

If you are managing professional employees, or, God forbid, lawyers, these rules are for you.

Rule No. 1
All people perceive their own actions to be reasonable.

Comment on Rule No. 1
Rule No. 1 is true no matter how wrong those actions appear to others.

Rule No. 2
It is never possible to predict the actions of a crazy person.

Comment on Rule No. 2
Rule No. 2 applies to zealots, humorless people, manipulative people, and eccentrics under stress. Note that since you can never predict the actions of a crazy person, you can't even rely on them acting crazy. As soon as you do, they'll act sane.

Rule No. 3
Trust people until they give you a reason not to.

Comment on Rule No. 3
Outward appearance is a valid reason for ceasing to trust someone.

Rule No. 4
Don't trust people after they've given you a reason not to.

Comment on Rule No. 4
Rule No. 4 is true no matter what they've done to make amends.

Rule No. 5
All rules have unintended consequences.

Corollary to Rule No. 5
Many of those unintended consequences will conflict with the original purpose of the rule.

Rule No. 6
Decisions based on what you see are generally more reliable than than those based on what you hear.

Warning Regarding Rule No. 6
Many people, but especially your spouse and boss, will assume that what you hear from them is more reliable than what you see with your own eyes.

Rule No. 7
Don't bargain with the devil.

Comment on Rule No. 7
If you negotiate standards with problem employees you're managing them to their own standards, not yours. Set standards and enforce them.

Rule No. 8
With any problem, deal with everything you do understand before you deal with anything you don't understand.

Observation About Rule No. 8
This is harder to do than it sounds. Most people want to fix a problem by dealing with what seems like the most important issue first. If you deal with the easy parts first, you'll find what remains is simpler to solve, and you'll be much more familiar with the terrain when you address the most difficult issues.

Rule No 9.
If clients or employers implement or propose foolish ideas, it is often a good idea to let them discover the flaws for themselves.

Corollaries to Rule No. 9:
A. Express your misgivings in the form of well-meaning questions at the outset, then keep your peace.
B. Have your solutions ready but keep them to yourself until asked for.
C. Never express your reservations or solutions as criticism of the original idea.

Rule No. 10
Most people are loyal.

Limitation of Rule No. 10
The objects of their allegiance vary, generally cannot be accurately perceived (even by themselves) and are at best approximate.

Rule No. 11
Schmoozers tend to schmooze themselves.

Extrapolation of Rule No. 11
Don't rely anything you hear from a salesman, especially when they're talking about themselves.

Rule No. 12
Never let fear make decisions. It only has one answer.

Advice Regarding Rule 12
If your solution involves running away or hiding something, you have allowed fear to make a decision.


Rule No. 13
Most people want to behave well.

Cautionary Note Regarding Rule 13
A small but important percentage of the population lacks a conscience. For these people, the concept of behaving well has no meaning. If you are unlucky enough to meet such a person, get rid of him or her quickly or move out of his or her orbit. Trying to understand why such people behave the way they do is difficult and pointless. For most others, the challenge is simply creating surroundings in which they can do well.