But It’s Always Been This Way

I’m a new manager, and the previous management had a pretty laid back policy on people being late. My manager wants me to buckle down on this, and make sure people get to work on time. What’s the best way to do this without people feeling resentful? How do you answer the response “That’s the way we’ve always done it”?

The Team Doc Says…

You say, “Well, that’s not the way we do it now.”

Seriously though, it would be a good idea for you to get your team together and talk about all company policies — those that were stretched before and how things are changing now. Expect resistance. People don’t like change, good or bad. The timing is right for you since you have new management. Let people grieve over the change by talking through it. It should help get them over the hump from old management to new management.