Set Your Business Up for Success with Well Documented Processes
When I look at some of the successful and unsuccessful endeavors in my life I always ask myself the same two questions: “what can I do to repeat this?” or “what should I avoid to ensure this doesn't happen again?” Many people could do the same by operating their business or department using a similar strategy. By evaluating what goes right and what goes wrong during operation, it is much easier to replicate successes and limit repeated failures. This is not a new concept to the majority of people, but it can be difficult to figure out what went right or wrong when there is no documentation outside of subjective memory. This is why today we are going to talk about the creation of standard processes for your business.
What are standard processes?
Depending on the size of your business, there will be several routine activities that need to be replicated and refined very frequently in order for the business to succeed. These activities might include accounting, human resources, customer relationship development, sales, and marketing, among many others. It is essential that the key areas of your business or operating consistently and effectively. For most businesses this means that the process of viewing these things should be continuously documented (to ensure you know what you did) and refined (to improve the process going forward).
Why should I have standard processes?
The reason why most businesses, especially smaller businesses, should develop standard processes so more effort can be spent growing the business. The goal of documenting and having standard processes is to create a baseline set of procedures to perform in each situation, so the operators of the business don’t need to expend significant energy remembering and recreating a process every time it occurs. By doing this, most of the routine work gets boiled down to following the standard policies and procedures. This allows the management of the business to focus more on the exceptions to the processes rather than the processes themselves. Another good reason to develop standard business processes is so that they can be delegated to others when the time comes. At some point, your business will need more manpower to execute properly with an increased volume of customers. By having the standard processes document, it is easier for someone else to come and take on some, or all of an area of the business so you can focus on growing the business.
How do I get started?
If you have or are looking to start a small business, take the time to document what you are doing for the KEY parts of your business on a regular basis. This may include your rules and instructions on how to maintain the books, create Instagram posts, write blogs, create contracts, or communicate with customers. Every time you go through this process again, look through your documentation and see if there is anything you can refine or improve. Repeat this process as the business grows so that someone else can take over your spot. By doing so, you are setting yourself up for success in the long run.