Standard operating procedures are a set of procedures that are followed consistently in a specific business or organization. SOPs avoid confusion, save time and also provide a proven methodology for the work to be carried out. Here are some important reasons to create and follow standard operating procedures.
As companies grow, they face huge challenges.
It’s no secret that growing a business can be a daunting task. But there are ways that will help manage the process from start to finish. With the right training and guidance, all companies can quickly learn to prepare for, react to, and recover from any situation that may come their way.
This can be accomplished with standard operating procedures. They help to ensure that each and every team member is well-versed in the important procedures that take place in every facet of the business.
Providing SOPs frees team members up for creativity and innovation.
Work is an important part of our lives. More than half of our time at work is spent doing things that are not really moving the company forward in tangible ways. This is called “work about work.”
Workers spend too much time searching for needed assets. Or solving problems related to under-communication. Workers make repetitive decisions that slow down their thoughts and actions. Wouldn’t it be nice if our work involved more time for creativity and innovation? SOPs help to minimize time spent on work-about-work and let people get back to important and productive work.
Standard processes improve your customer experience.
A key reason for standardizing your business processes is to help you improve the quality of your client’s experience. With a standard operating procedure, you set clear guidelines for all staff members. This ensures that all the steps of your client experience process are consistent for all customers.
A consistent product or service gives your clients a reason to return. They will know what to expect each time they purchase which sets their minds at ease. Consequently, this makes it easy to say yes to more services offered by your company in the future.
Companies that have standard processes are more profitable.
Every business is looking for ways to save both time and money. Following standard operating procedures is a proven way to make work run more efficiently, which obviously leads to larger profits. Here’s how.
Team members come and go. When that happens, it costs the company in training time. However, having standard processes for new team members to follow will cut that time significantly.
But even if your turnover rate is low, your team will still miss work for paid time off. What happens then? Work will be passed to someone else or put on hold. Having well-documented SOPs allows those who take over those duties to accomplish the work without the slow-down or stop that would result if there was no documentation.
Standard processes create a more cohesive and collaborative culture.
Having a standard and well-defined set of procedures ensures every team member works in the same way every time. It also creates a more cohesive environment when everyone is working similarly, whether synchronously or asynchronously.
Consistently using SOPs is a surefire way to establish a common language that everyone can understand. It helps employees get more familiar with the way they are supposed to do things, allowing them to work more collaboratively.
Using standard processes for operating your business has many benefits. They provide a clear set of directions for teams to follow that can eliminate unnecessary work, boost productivity and profits, and provide more space for creativity and innovation.
In order to help our clients grow their businesses, we offer consulting services that help businesses improve their efficiency, effectiveness, and profitability. A key part of this service is standardizing your business processes to help you reduce costs, streamline operations, and improve the quality of your client’s experience. With standard operating procedures, you set clear guidelines for all staff members and ensure that all the steps of your business process are consistent for all clients.
About the Author
Paula Holsberry is the founder of Tessera Virtual Business Solutions, specializing in optimizing work processes for remote teams. With experience in both start-ups and larger companies, she helps teams maximize productivity through efficient Asana training and consulting.
