I have always believed in using the 24-hour rule when it comes to handling either discipline or problem issues in the office with staff personnel and so far, it has been the right thing to do. If you have never heard of the 24-hour rule, let me explain.
Let's say that you have just found out the one of your staff members has been making a costly mistake and you need to talk to them about what has happened and what needs to take place to either correct the situation or end the situation.
This is not an emergency situation, because no one has been hurt or no crime has been committed. The way to handle the situation best is to take at least 24 hours to ponder the situation, gather information, and give yourself time to really think through what has taken place.
By doing this you will be able to avoid jumping to wrong conclusions, and possibly jumping down an employee’s throat unnecessarily, and avoid making bad decisions by not knowing the full impact of the situation.
Many times, by taking the extra day to really think things through you have the time to see things from the staff members position and understand better why they did what they did and then you can address it much better because you have a better understanding of where they are coming from.
This extra 24 hours also gives you time to "chill out" and not sound sharp or uncaring, which is never taken well. Most of all what is really good about taking this time is that you can write notes down of what you want to address and why and when you do it is so much better for all parties. I can personally say that 99% of the time, when the confrontation/discussion has happened this way, it comes out with a positive ending.
In actuality the 24-hour rule should be part of your office "Progressive Discipline Policy". Having a plan to handle discipline or issues that need correction which employees understand and are aware of how it works is beneficial to the relationship that management has with them. The rules are explained and understood.
A positive outcome is what we want so isn’t that worth waiting 24 hours to evaluate the issue to make this possible?
