How to Write Policies That Encourage Compliance - Community Roundtable Artwork

Doing Information Right™

Best practices and insights in the information governance, records management, and business process arenas ... from the mind of Steve Weissman, The Info Gov Guy™ at Holly Group

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Doing Information Right™

How to Write Policies That Encourage Compliance - Community Roundtable

July 28, 2026 • Steve Weissman, The Info Gov Guy™

0:00 | 58:03

Many organizational policies are written as a series of imperatives: do this, don't do that, always, never. While well-intentioned, this approach often leaves capable professionals feeling like children who have to be controlled rather than trusted. The result? Policies that are read reluctantly, followed inconsistently, and viewed as obstacles rather than guidelines.

This installment of our IG Community Roundtable explores the connection between policy tone and staff behavior, and explains how respectful, positively framed policies can encourage questions without fear of reprimand.

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Your hosts:
• Steve Weissman - steve@hollygroup.com
• Jesse Wilkins - jesse.wilkins@opensitysolutions.com
• Donda Young - dlyoung@heliasconsulting.com

Book mentioned in this video: by Lewis Eisen
How to Write Rules That People Want to Follow, 3rd Edition: A guide to writing respectful policies and directives

https://www.amazon.com/Write-Rules-That-People-Follow-dp-1988749069/dp/1988749069/ref=dp_ob_title_bk