Over the many years that I have been in business working both for myself and others, I have had to develop policies.
I think this makes perfect sense because, after all, and as I just said, I am in business. I work with lots of different people in lots of different types of situations, and naturally, when things don’t go well (meaning in a way that is win-win-win for everyone involved), the onus is on me to develop a policy so things will go better next time.
Policies of mine have arisen from the following types of questions:
Do I work with friends and family? (I have a policy for that.)
Do I want to supply the labor for your four-hour work week? (I have a policy for that.)
Do I offer refunds for my classes if a students poops out part-way through? (I have a policy for that.)
We have a conflict of interest, will I work with you/for you? (I have a policy for that.)
Most of my policies are internal policies. Which is to say that they exist in the back of the house, where I work. I don’t broadcast them in the front of the house, where I am visible. Policies are developed and brought into play on an as-needed basis.
I have found that because I have policies, I rarely need to use them.
Something important I’ve learned in the past ten years is that people have starkly differing views on how business should be conducted. In fact, I think I’ve seen the whole spectrum at this point, from those I respect and trust and want to partner with all the way to those who are presumptuous and have decided in advance what I am going to do for them and how they are going to benefit from my efforts without treating me with any kind of respect.
The hype of how the Internet has changed everything and now we are just one great big happy family has worn thin and given way to clearer and more healthy boundaries, for me and my business.
These clearer and more healthy boundaries have helped me create a clearer and more effective business. My students definitely benefit from my clearer focus. My writing also benefits. The amount of projects I can bring to completion have gone up.
I still can’t keep up with my inbox, however. And that’s even after changing my address.
Perhaps I need a policy there. Or at least a better system.
Friends respect your policies. People who don’t respect policies have words for people (particularly women) who have them. I won’t use that word here.
Some might feel that the new laws of “transparency” dictate that I reveal all of my business policies and every detail about the way I run my business in the front of the house. But that’s ridiculous.
In fact, one of my newest policies relates to preventing seemingly nice people who are “my biggest fans” from robbing me blind.
And I can tell you how to do it.
By having policies.
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I often feel misunderstood. People don't understand why I do things the way I do. Why I will write for one magazine but not the other, why I will use certain words in my descriptions, but not others. It is because of my policies…policies not just about how I run my business, but that govern who I am, the image I want to portray, and also for the protection of my and my family's privacy.
Thanks, Christina, for once again, validating how I operate…just when I'm feeling a little too different from the mainstream.
Have a great week,
Carol
Well said, Christina. Something I've quickly learned as a freelancer is that people WILL walk all over you and WILL take your work for free if they can get it. It's definitely important to draw boundaries and not feel guilty about charging a reasonable amount (and asking for respect) in return for good work. I know I need to develop some policies as you mentioned…but what if clients construe this as being inflexible?
lots to think about here. thank you for this post.
i used to be all about transparency believing that it was equal to authenticity and honesty but i've started shifting my thinking recently and find myself keeping much more of my behind-the-scenes life (including my policies) private.
it has been a powerful shift for me.
~erin
This is great. I especially enjoy the fact that you say that you aren't obliged to list or advertise your policies. They are there to serve you. I plan to mentally re-name some of the ways I operate as “policy”. I think it will help me be more firm when needed. Cheers.