In this short episode of Ways to Change Your Workplace, Prina Shah explores a simple but powerful leadership action: removing one pointless rule from your organisation.Every workplace has them - outdated policies, unnecessary approvals, or processes that exist simply because “that’s how it’s always been done.” While they may seem harmless, these rules quietly send a dangerous message: that bureaucracy matters more than common sense.Prina explains how eliminating even one unnecessary rule can spark trust, ownership, and initiative within teams. Culture doesn’t change through posters or slogans - it changes when leaders actively remove barriers that make work harder than it needs to be.If you’re serious about improving culture, start small. Start practical. Start by killing one stupid rule.In This EpisodePrina explores:Why every organisation has at least one pointless ruleHow unnecessary processes slowly kill initiativeThe hidden message bureaucracy sends to employeesWhy culture change happens through action, not postersA simple leadership exercise to identify and remove one ruleHow removing friction builds trust and momentumA Simple Leadership ChallengeAsk your team one question this week:“If you could kill one rule or process that makes your job harder for no reason — what would it be?”Then:Choose one genuinely low-risk ruleRemove itTell your team what you removed and whyInvite the next suggestionSmall actions like this build cultures of trust, ownership, and common sense.Key InsightCulture isn’t changed by statements on the wall.It changes when leaders remove the small, unnecessary things that make work harder than it needs to be.Reflection QuestionWhat is one rule or process in your workplace that everyone rolls their eyes at — but nobody has challenged?Send Prina a text to let her know how you'd change the workplace If you are seeking professional advice or would like to change your company culture through training, consulting, speaking and coaching, get in touch, email me.Say hi!Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/prinashah/Find out what I am up to on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/prina.shah/Check out my Website⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.prinashah.com/Ask a question - https://www.prinashah.com/contactSign up to my monthylish practical newsletter https://www.prinashah.com/signupGrab a copy of Make Work Meaningful and start creating your own legacy at work and leave me a review. https://www.makeworkmeaningful.shop/bookSubscribe to the Ways to Change the Workplace Podcast for more actionable insights. ...

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