I’ve always been curious about people being attacked by wild animals. Just this week, a second man was gored after getting too close to a bison in Yellowstone National Park. I wondered what would possess them to get that close to a beast weighing several hundred pounds.
Then I saw a live moose in Rocky Mountain National Park, and I understood. It was so beautiful! It was so close! I could see the fuzz on its antlers as it chomped away on a bush! I really wanted to pet it (I didn’t!).
If there is no barrier, people are tempted to get closer than they should. If you don’t set limits for your staff, they will push the boundaries. If there are no limits as to what is acceptable, people will determine their own ranges, which may violate the norms you wish to establish. If you don’t outline the consequences, people may not think of the implications and instead engage in risky behavior.
Yes, it would have been nice to pet the moose, but healthy boundaries are better for everyone. Don’t let your staff get gored by too much freedom.
