"Even after three decades in business, learning Lewis Eisen’s approach felt like taking the red pill in The Matrix — it completely changed how I view policies and procedures."
Even when they’re labelled as “policies,” “terms and conditions,” or simply “guidelines,” too many rules sound like they were written by angry parents talking to bad children. In an effort to boost compliance, the tone often slips from bossy to outright bullying — usually without anyone realizing it.
Most of the time, this tone isn’t intentional. The content may be accurate, but the language undercuts the message. Rule writers focus on what they want to say, but not on how they’re saying it — and as a result, the rules themselves end up undermining engagement, culture, and trust.
Drafting enforceable, respectful rules is a skill — one that doesn’t come naturally, even to experienced professionals. This hands-on workshop is designed for both new and seasoned policy writers, offering a practical, repeatable framework for crafting policies, standards, and guidelines that sound firm without sounding hostile.
You’ll learn how to:
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Spot and eliminate unintended negative messaging that distorts your intent
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Structure documents to reduce redundancy and speed up approval
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Write statements that are clear, succinct, and respectful
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Align tone and content with corporate values to build trust and cooperation
In a competitive landscape for talent, organizations can’t afford to let toxic language sneak into their rules. The Perfect Policies™ approach has been adopted by organizations around the world, helping them meet their compliance goals while strengthening morale and engagement.
See a real-world example: Security Policy Case Study.
"Lewis’s workshop was a game changer. After the workshop, I went back to my office and rewrote all of my policies in 30 minutes with a clear vision of what I wanted.”
- R.B., Records and POIPPA Administrator, City of Port Coquitlam
"The instructor was incredibly knowledgeable...The information provided was extremely useful and can be applied immediately. He provided real examples to be used in day to day work, and allowed us to have meaningful discussions with our colleagues. Best training I've had in government.”
- J.P., Information Management Project Officer, Library and Archives Canada
Check out what Suzanne DiCicco has to say about how her work has improved after attending the Drafting Effective Policies workshop.
Workshop Types
I offer two types of policy-drafting workshops.
One is a general, open, skills-based workshop delivered online and of benefit to participants across all corporate functions. This workshop is held several times a year.
The other consists of topic-specific workshops that focus on the policy challenges faced by particular disciplines. These sessions use the same underlying approach, but are tailored to the policy environment, responsibilities, and risks specific to the organization or team involved.
A workshop for Security professionals who write rules
A workshop for managers, supervisors, and specialists who write operational rules
A workshop for Information Management and Information Technology people who write rules
A workshop for Human Resources professionals who write rules
A workshop for Finance professionals who write rules
A workshop for Facilities Management professionals who write rules