Whenever I talk with an overwhelmed business owner, a couple of questions always come to mind:
- Are you trying to run your business in your head?
- Are you the only one who knows how to do what needs to be done?
If you haven’t documented your business processes, you’re stuck. Details are missed when you try to delegate, and you end up doing everything yourself. I’d like to challenge you a little bit. If you don’t have your process written down, you don’t really have a process. I’m excited to share some process basics with you to combat overwhelm and keep your business running smoothly. You’ll be surprised how these simple steps can save you time and money as your productivity skyrockets.
What is a process?
Processes are not the same as procedures. Processes organize tasks to get things done. Procedures are how we accomplish those tasks. So processes are simply a series of steps or actions that you take to achieve a particular end.
For example, your goal is to have clients who are excited to work with you, to know what to expect from your company, and feel valued and appreciated as soon as they sign their contract. Thus, the series of steps to achieve that goal would be your process for onboarding new clients. As you think through the steps that need to happen, and then write them down, you’re on your way to creating your process.
Why do I need processes?
This is another question I am often asked. When you’re busy trying to juggle all of the various hats of your business, developing processes might seem low on the priority list. But the right processes will actually save you time and money, simplifying every part of your business. Creating processes makes it possible for you to:
- Get the help you need! You can effectively delegate because tasks and procedures are written down and easily shared with your team.
- Keep your sanity. You can eliminate overwhelm as you know exactly where you are at and what needs to be done to keep everything in your business moving forward.
- Survive the “Bus Test.” If you were hit by a bus today and could not work, what would happen to your business? With the right processes in place, your team should be able to pick up and keep your business going.
- Scale and Grow. Processes free up your time, identify what’s working, and help you see where you can grow. Bringing on new employees, clients or projects is easier because you already have the processes in place to support that growth. And creating something that is truly replicable opens up so many more opportunities for scaling your business.
How do I know if processes are right for me?
The easy answer? Processes are always right for you! I get it. When you first start a business, you’re thinking more about how to find more leads. How do I increase sales? How do I fulfill those sales? Processes get bumped to the “when I have more time” list. But you will never have more time if you don’t put the right processes in place. Here are a few reasons I often hear from business owners waiting to create processes:
1. My team is too small.
Your business is never too small for defined processes. Start on day one. Even if you are a CEO, sales department, fulfillment, and office manager all in one, write down what needs to be done for each part of your business. Think about the future team you will have and start creating processes for each of those future employees. Then when you are ready to start hiring and growing your team, you will know what your needs are and what the job will require, so you won’t be starting from scratch.
2. I’m too busy right now.
You’re too busy not to have processes. The little bit of extra time you spend on the front end will save you so much time later. Just start by writing down the things that you do and how you do them. You’ll then be able to update those notes as you notice what works and what doesn’t. Your notes become your process as you refer back to them, add details, and make improvements. You won’t waste time recreating the wheel every time you need to do something. You’ll already know what needs to be done and how to do it successfully.
3. I’m still trying to figure out my process.
I hate to break it to you, but your processes will never be perfect. Processes are continually evolving, and that’s okay! Even if you’re not sure what your process is yet, start writing it down. Especially if it’s something you don’t do on a daily or regular basis. Recording a few notes about how you did something will help you when that task comes up again months later. Each time you repeat this task or project, you can add to your process. The hardest part is just getting started. Even if all you do is create and name a document, you’re already making progress, and it will be easy to open it up and jot down a few notes without the pressure of creating the entire process upfront. You don’t have to have it all figured out. Just start!
I’m talking through these process basics in the video below and sharing more details and examples. I’ll also give you a little sneak peek into some exciting things we have in the works.
Whether you’re hoping to better manage your time, projects, and teams, or planning to scale your business, process can get you there. If you’re ready to create processes for your business, but you’re still not sure how to start, I can help. Schedule a free 15 minute strategy call here and let’s make business simple!
Not sure what a modern SOP looks like? We have a course for that! With free templates, step-by-step instruction, and tools to help you succeed, we’ll teach you how to create a powerful SOP for your business. Preview the course here.