The main objective, when creating processes, is to create a framework that is as smooth, elegant, and as automatic as possible. To this end, it may be useful to think of processes as code and yourself as a programmer.
As you go through designing your processes, it may seem at first excessively time-consuming to look at everything three times. However, each subsequent revision takes less and less time.
Before changing anything, it is important to know how the business’s operations currently work. Simply diagramming the actual state of the firm’s processes uncovers valuable information that can be used to effectively make changes and improvements.
Each process is different, but they are easy to organize if they are defined by type. This will not only help you structure them more easily, but will also help you better manage them, once there.
Turnover is a fact of life in business, and we must be prepared. As a manager, you will sleep better at night, knowing that everything is documented and that, regardless of changes, the firm will run smoothly.
A process should be as simple as possible but not simpler than what is required. Do not create something too elaborate because it will create confusion, and people will not follow it. Simplify your workflows as much as possible.
Implementing processes is crucial as Lucy’s wedding planning business continues to grow. Flexible procedures help her adapt to changes and improve her service as she innovates. With these in place, she will have time to focus on finding new clients and providing excellent service.
When a company becomes established, processes are a must. They guarantee consistency and quality, and with time, we rely on them, freeing up space, so we do not have to remember every necessary step of a transaction. As a result, we have more room to think strategically.
Processes capture the state of a company at one point in time, but companies and people are constantly evolving, and processes must do so as well. If processes are not designed to be resilient, they will be too rigid and become either a burden or eventually collapse, losing all the hard work of documentation and implementation.
The importance of having programmed processes in our company became apparent when specific necessary steps weren’t executed. We realized a client statement didn’t go out on time, and we once left out an action when we were closing a sale. I knew then that we needed to manage our workflows with set procedures.
When I began setting up our processes, I tried to do it for every part of the company. This effort turned out to be very successful. We were able to avoid many preventable problems, and we have also been able to operate consistently and with the quality we envisioned. I think this is where processes shine – they help you take care of the vital work that needs to be executed to operate as you envisage.
Process implementation is a necessity in any company. Set procedures standardize your operations and allow you to deliver your product consistently. Between one task and the next, they also help you and your teams ensure no one forgets the basic yet fundamental steps inherent in any procedure.
Atul Gawande’s book The Checklist Manifesto (public library) presents a compelling case for using checklists in companies. He explains why procedures are so important, when you should use them and how to implement them. Throughout his book, Gawande provides useful advice on how to best work with checklists. He stresses the importance of formatting and how to present the content properly, for instance, which will help you get the most out of the processes at your company. The guidelines that Gawande describes will help you implement or improve upon your company’s processes.