They Made a New Rule

As I was sitting on an airplane this afternoon heading to South Florida (vainly trying to escape the cold) I overheard the flight attendant tell the lady in front of me that she couldn’t keep her pillow and blanket (you know, those cheap ones provided by the airline) on the floor; she’d have to use it or give it up. When asked why, the flight attendant replied, “It’s the rules. It’s a new rule. They made a new rule.”

I have to admit that I didn’t know whether to laugh out loud or gag. Just what we need…more rules. I already can’t use my cellphone once the door is shut. I already can’t go to the bathroom when the seatbelt sign is on. I already can’t have my seat reclined TWO INCHES during taxi. I already have to watch the safety demonstration for the one millionth time. And I can’t tamper with, disable, or destroy the lavatory smoke detector—why I would want to I don’t know. And now I can’t put my blanket on the floor in front of me. What’s next?

Now, the purpose of this blog is not to gripe about the airlines. I’ve given up on that. The purpose is to ask: DO WE  HAVE SIMILAR STUPID AND FRUSTRATING RULES that affect our customers? DO WE HAVE SIMILAR USELESS POLICIES that affect our internal customers?

Of course, the answer is yes. We do. And they make about as much sense as the new “no blanket left on the floor” rule. So what do we do? Challenge them. Change them. Ask our customers and co-workers where they exist and deal with them.

Life is too full and business is already challenging enough without ticking off clients and teammates over nothing.

Thanks for flying. Bu-bye!