Cohousing-L Mailing List: Principals vs Policies

[Michael Donovan (editor]

I have watched the rules/no rules discussion with interest. While I tend to
prefer clearly stated expectations I received today from another list the
comments below. They seemed germane to this discussion. The author is David
Allen of David Allen & Co. I offer them without (further) comment:

PRODUCTIVITY PRINCIPLE #39

Prime your principles instead of policing your
policies.

(COMMENTARY)

Rules tend to show up because principles are not
clear or trusted. When you know people have
bought into standards, you can give them freedom
for decisions and behaviors. If you don't know
the alignment exists, you must micro-manage with
regulations, requiring much more energy in the
long run.