The local park has a bunch of different trails where people hike and run. Some with dogs, some alone and others on horseback. And while there are signs all over the place for people to “scoop” after their horse, none do. As a result, the trail is covered. But the people with dogs do scoop, even though there are virtually no signs asking them to do so. The expectation is the same.
At work, we often have expectations that are the same across the organization. Some people follow them, while others disregard them and continue on, leaving a divided organization. For a culture to thrive, everyone needs to live up to the same expectations. And leaders need to make sure they do. Organizations with two different sets of rules are doomed to fail. How are you making sure you don’t have them in yours?