Classifying Challenges as Management or Policy Issues on the Job

For many of us, a work day can seem like a blur of challenges, problems and deadlines. For managers, it is important to prioritize and solve work issues with some professionalism and focus'"this means being able to first decide which problems and challenges truly need to be "managed" and which ones can be addressed with policy decisions. Having established policy to guide the company operations is a key way to create consistency and efficiency on the job, but there will be times when a manager has to step in and "manage" in the trenches.

Written policy is an important element to a functioning work environment. By taking the time to anticipate issues and address general guidelines as company policy, management can "head off" many problems before the crop up. For example, if company policy addresses how vacations will be handled, what the procedure will be for promotions, and other personnel issues, it will make it much easier for employees to know how to proceed. Without policy to guide behaviors and help set the company culture, even small daily questions can become problems that require a manager's decision.

Written policy, however, does not address every management challenge that pops up in the average job environment. There are those times when a manager has to step in and get involved, often making quick decisions in the moment. For a manager, the important thing is to be able to classify which problems or challenges are ones that need management and which can be solved by turning to existing policy.

When faced with the need for managerial supervision, consider whether the situation warrants "management" in terms of intervention and/or decision-making, or whether there is existing policy that can help address the issue. The ability to classify challenges in this manner can help managers to stay on track and NOT find themselves going against policy or re-inventing the process.