Are You Ignoring Your SOP?

There I was, ready to pull a coffee mug out of the dishwasher the other morning and I realized the dishes were still dirty because the soap never released. To be fair, that dishwasher is 30 years old. It happens! 

When my parents renovated this kitchen, many, many decades ago, the dishwasher was a brand new, and exciting, addition. For how much we all cook in this family, there were always tons of dishes to wash. But, it is now time for a tune up.  

The lesson here is that we can’t expect something to work forever. A dishwasher might last 30 years, but in business, most things don’t last very long at all.

When you initially created the systems, processes and plans that went into the daily operations of your business, you were in a completely different space than you are today. They most certainly need a tune up.

Last week, we talked about branding and updating creative elements in your business and this week it’s a little more work behind the scenes. 

When I started Slater Success back in 2008, Zoom didn’t even exist. Now, I spend most of my day on the platform, either with clients or recording for the podcast. I’ve had to create processes around potential tech issues. If my podcast guest loses their Internet and can’t get online or the platform itself goes down, backup plans must be in place. 

I’ve also created processes around Zoom recordings, where they go, how they are stored, making sure my team has access, etc. Even down to what backgrounds to use, what lighting and audio equipment is needed. There are many mini-steps in every process.  

The SOP of your business is a working document, never complete and always changing. I suggest taking a look at it once a year to make changes. Depending on your business, you might have one document or specific department documents. 

In updating, ensure you are using the strengths and knowledge of your team members for ideas. I turn to my systems people when it’s time to update an email provider, review web hosting, change an automation process, compare CRM systems, etc. They spend time in these systems, they know what is working and what is not. There are always better, faster and more efficient ways to work. Find them and use them. 

Know the people on your team who are good at SOP's. Some people truly think in process naturally, like my former business partner in printing, who excelled in creating systems. Have someone in your organization who is really good at systems and procedures and has the ability to not only create them, but put them into action, document them and train people on them.

Processes aren’t just tech-related. For instance, I try to take most summer Fridays off, if possible, in my business. We have calendar processes in place to keep this a reality and also exceptions built in for when we need to plug in a call or a recording. 

Take a moment today and think about what you can be updating, what needs changed, what needs removed, what needs added and who the right people are to assist in those decisions. 

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be handwashing some mugs until further notice.