Approach new policy making decisions with an open mind and open ears. Listen to the informed people surrounding you and look to the past for tips on avoiding policy failure. Be directly involved in making your plan work by following it through beyond implementation, making the necessary adjustments that will ensure success. You will create policies that your are proud to sponsor because they work.
Long-term View
Determine if you are creating a quick fix policy or something beneficial in the long term. Never hurry yourself to a policy decision out of fear or anger. Rely on people you trust to share in the decision-making process from a place of rational calm. Consider the effects this policy having been established will have in the future. Balance those expected results against a future in which it was never implemented. Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks to make a decision for a best possible future.
History
Research other instances in which similar policies have been introduced. Rate the success and failures of each occasion and draw conclusions as to what could have been done differently. Learning from the mistakes of others is way to save both time and money. Consult with others in your field to find out about problems they have seen with your policy ideas in the industry. Ask them to identify the key reason for failure or success of individual policies.
Consulting
Speak directly with the people your policies will effect on a day-to-day basis. Discuss with them alternative methods of implementation and ask for their input in making the policy have the desired effect. Direct them to discuss with you their feelings on other policies and how they have made their lives easier or more difficult. Take advantage of their ground -evel insight and customize your policy to make the most sense for the most people.
Innovation
Allow for an open discourse of ideas in a brainstorming session. These open-ended style policy meetings will generate new ideas and solutions that have yet to be tested. Open up the floor for topical discussion and record all concepts to be evaluated later. Try not to limit the boundaries or filter the raw data obtained from these creative exercises. Direct the group onto a new area of focus when you feel sufficient information has been covered for each policy topic.
Review
Review the success or failure of a new policy at regular intervals along the way. Closely monitor instances in which the policy has caused conflict or discourse. Be willing to make needed changes to amend a poorly written policy so it is effective. Determine whether the policy in place is presenting a solution to the problem for which it was originally designed or if it is making new problems and failing its purpose. Make a final decision based on facts and results, so you know you are doing what is best for all involved.
