Childhood, schooldays, college times, youth and old age or home, workplace or any other place – all phases and junctures of our life are experiences that serve to teach us something or the other. And one issue that invariably plagues our mind repeatedly throughout this journey that is life is whether we should be pedants for rules or not.
We all have divergent views on the question of being a stickler for rules. Some amongst of us would be martinets and not willing to deviate from them. Some of us would be habitual offenders and get pleasure from doing things the way they are not supposed to be done. And some would consider situations as they come and then take decisions. But as a rule, we tend to adhere to rules, albeit unconsciously. And more often than not, quite a few of such rules are self-imposed, the basis for their necessity not being known or comprehended. These self-imposed rules impact your career and success in it the most.
Rules are of three types:
· Official rules: These are always well enunciated and cannot be breached. All countries have their own laws and it is expected of citizens to not violate them - be they criminal laws or civil laws. That disconcerts many who tend to believe that indulging in acts of swindling, prejudice, aggressive behaviour both within and outside home and persecution are not really decadent activities. But the fact is that such people are lawbreakers. And so are many who, as a habit, violate traffic rules or copyrights. Offenders have to be proceeded against and invariably are by law enforcing agencies.
· Community rules: These incorporate intricate matters like moral principles, beliefs and values. The truth is that community rules are more or less one-sided and to that extent, can be regarded as skewed vis-à-vis official rules. You may have strong viewpoints and reservations on certain matters but there are some situations that will bring about an altered outlook and opinion. Community rules are contingent on situations and perceptions. All of us break them some time or the other, repent for having done so on the premise that to err is human, absolve ourselves and eventually forget whatever we may have done – that people who may have suffered on account of you still remember you is a different matter.
· Self-imposed rules: These are those that people at every workplace talk about and you get to hear at every workplace. There are some supposed principled men and women who assert that they would never find any middle ground as far as their main beliefs are concerned. There are also others who swear not to indulge in backstabbing or backbiting. And how can you not notice some who avow not to tolerate particular types of colleagues and bosses. These contentions are what are known as self-restrictive or self-restraining conduct. Ironically, we do not have justifiable rationale for such affirmations and paradoxically, we cannot visualize the results that may follow.
Self-imposed rules can be devastating. You do not need to do a deal with your values to move up in your career. But you will not have to let go a lot, including your individual necessities and consider as above all your organization’s interests. Perhaps you may not be as righteous as is warranted; on the contrary you may be self-centered and self-seeking and fearful to relinquish that much command. It is also likely that you may be terrified of breakdown or letdown. As far as backstabbing and backbiting are concerned, every workplace witnesses them and people who claim they do not indulge in them are the biggest culprits themselves. And people who swear not to tolerate particular types of bosses or colleagues are the tetchiest characters themselves.
The truth of the matter is that all self-imposed rules are neither based on principles, morality or morals. They are all about attempting to have power over everything that is muddled, disordered and bloodcurdling surrounding you. Self-imposed rules are sort of illogical and subjective confines; and by subscribing to them, we tend to mislead ourselves to a stage of misbelieving that we hold the reins. Little do we realize that the only thing that we attain in the bargain is an impediment to our own success. And by delaying success, our very inherent capabilities suffer a beating. That is precisely the reason why self-imposed rules are also known as self-restricting conduct.
The best way to break such rules is by letting presence be illuminated. What is presence anyway? It is the state of mind (state of no mind in fact) where our observations are inert and reactive and resultantly we hang up all scrutiny and decisions. Eventually the power of stability and direction gets lost. .
Therefore, should you be a pedant for rules? Well, if you seek to be successful in your career, remember that official rules are not meant to be violated under any circumstances. With regard to community rules, you can use your prudence to decide what to do or what not to do. But as far as self-imposed rules are concerned, no one ever asked you to make them, leave aside accepting them. Therefore, they need not be formulated at all and secondly but more importantly, they do not call for any adherence.
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