Why Are Processes Important and Why Should You Care?
As I sat down with this blank digital page in front of me with a deadline looming over completing this article, I had no idea where to start. So I typed a title. Great, now I just knew the subject was something about processes and why they are important.
Then I realized I needed a process!
Why Are Processes Important?
They are important because they describe how things get done and then provide the focus for making them better and how they are done determines how successful the outcomes will be. If you focus on the right processes, in the right way, you can design your way to success.
What’s the Purpose of a Process?
So far so good but what’s the purpose of a process. The purpose of process is to ensure consistency. A good process is like a checklist that ensures the right things get done by the right people at the right time.
So What Processes Could Help You?
Well, a process about how to write an article might be helpful! So I created one:
1. Identify the Subject
2. Create a Title
3. Outline the content with sections explaining Why, Examples, What, How and a Summary.
4. Write one or 2 lines of text under each of the headings.
5. Fill out the sections with examples and dialogue
6. Spell and grammar check
7. Copy and paste into the article destination
Here are some examples of processes; product assembly, quality assurance, maintenance, invoicing, sales, customer service and so on. We have all come across them and they help ensure that people understand what needs to be done and that there is an efficient and repeatable outcome with no surprises. Formal processes are especially important when they involve anything having to do with employee or customer safety, legal issues, financial considerations, and other critical or sensitive functions. In other words core processes.
So What’s the Best Way To Implement a Process?
As part of our EOS™, we help people map their core processes and we use the 3-Step Process Documenter™ to create a short process that can actually be used.
The EOS 3-Step Process Documenter™ is a simple tool that helps you work backward from the desired outcome and define the major steps in the process.
Step 1: Identify. List the handful of core processes that make your business go. Typically, your list will look something like this:
- HR
- Marketing
- Sales
- Accounting
- Customer Service
- Operations
Give each process a name, and make sure everyone in the company knows and uses the name.
Step 2: Document. Take each of those core processes and document them (1 – 10 pages maximum) in high-level outline form. Document 20% of the steps that yield 80% of the results.
Step 3: Package. Create a table of contents from the list in Step 1. Each process from Step 2 will be the contents. Now collate them into one single binder or electronic folder. This becomes your company’s secret sauce or franchise prototype of your way of doing business.