A few weeks ago, I had my oil changed at a gas station. The mechanic conducted the usual 20 point checkup and said, “Sir, your batteries are still serviceable, but the voltage is getting low. I suggest you change it.”
Knowing that batteries are around the Php 5,000.00 mark, I said I’d get to it when I had excess funds and the time.
Fast forward to a month later and I still haven’t gotten around to fixing it. I was driving my family to Laguna for my wife’s company outing. I stopped by a gas station to fill up. I shut off my engine after the attendant reminded me to.
After the fill up and I was about to get going, I turned the key and found my engine gasping. Then I remembered the batteries. They finally died on me.
I think the universe was still looking out for me because the batteries gave way in a gas station where they had mechanics and an extra set of batteries. I was able to continue on with the trip that day, but there’s something from my story that you can learn from.
In your work, what issues need to be addressed by the proper policies?
Sometimes, my students say that they don’t know which policies to tackle. There are so many things to look out for, and some of these things are too small to take notice of. How do they tackle the small ones?
I say, don’t worry. The small (but important) issues tend get bigger over time. You won’t be able to miss them so rest assured that whatever needs your attention will get it over the long haul. The major lesson is that once they show themselves, act on them.
Are you finding tardiness issues getting out of control? Employees being late 5 or 8 minutes is no big deal, but when it becomes an everyday thing, it might morph into an unwanted company culture that you don’t want to encourage.
Are cash advances getting out of hand? To the point that employees are now acting bratty if you deny them (read: nagdadabog). Why not establish a policy where you make it clear that advances are discretionary and what the metrics are for you to allow them and up to how much?
Are employee attitudes getting sour? They drag their feet when you ask them to do work, and they resent it if they don’t get awarded incentive bonuses? Why not establish a policy saying what exactly you are looking for when you reward good performance?
So, let me ask again. what issues are you postponing from dealing with?
Take it from me, it is better to address them at the early points where you have the time, resources and support to create the policies.
Don’t wait around like me and get stranded in the middle of a trip before you act. Create a policy and deal with it.
