7 Keys for Developing Clear ROE

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE

Why do we need the law if we are under grace?
Why develop Rules of Engagement (ROE) with people you love and trust? 
How can ROE be enforced without ruining relationships and sending a message of distrust?

The Apostle Paul made it very clear why the law was necessary; it was our guide, our tutor, pointing us to Christ. Without the law, we would not be able to fully value the grace that He brings. The law becomes a reminder of the consequences of sin and the dangers of not walking in the salvation of Christ, received by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). 

Rules of engagement, or ROE, are the guiding principles governing the boundaries of relationships, the expectations of transactions, and how we manage crises and settle disputes. Rules of engagement assume that there is a possibility of failure in the relationship; thus, they provide guidelines on how to address failure and a redemptive path of grace towards restoring the relationship.  

After Adam sinned, God provided a redemptive path for mankind by sending His Son to reverse the curse of the law. ROE, while providing a structural framework, should be flexible, and created with a spirit of fostering continual improvement for people, processes, and organizations, rather than being legalistic or condemnatory in nature.

How do you develop rules of engagement that are redemptive in nature and full of grace?   Make sure that they include the following basic key elements:

1. Be specific
2. Be clear and simple
3. Be forgiving:  make the redemptive path clear
4. Provide clear direction on how to resolve conflict
5. Provide consequences that are fair for non-performance or non-compliance
6. Provide rewards for compliance and above-the-norm performance
7. Provide a clear exit strategy for all parties involved

Based on the complexity of the relationship and the transaction, you should always consult an attorney to make sure that you remain within the bounds of the law and that you have not omitted critical elements that may create legal issues for you in the long run.

However, be careful not to allow attorneys to lure you into legal tactics that embrace a worldly approach and ignore the Kingdom mandate, or that are designed to cause you to spend more money than necessary.

Remember, the goal of any rule of engagement is not to avoid conflict, but to provide a redemptive pathway that facilitates conflict resolution. There will always be conflict in relationships, particularly business relationships, and bear in mind that not everyone will have the same frame of reference when it comes to dealing with conflict. Even if they do, there will be times when not everyone is willing to adhere to the redemptive path. 

For all of these reasons, it is essential to formulate rules of engagement that are Christlike and gracious in nature.  

My prayer for you this week is that you will seek God’s face concerning your relationships, and that you will ask Him to show you where the rules of engagement need to be applied, and grace must be given for all parties involved to adhere to them.