In this article, I will discuss everything you need to know about creating processes and how this has enabled my business to provide great services to my customers consistently. Keep reading.
Unparalleled Efficiency
Creating processes always offers a win-win situation as it is also great from a customer perspective, ensuring that the customer gets the exact same quality experience no matter which staff member serves them. This also means that the staff members are well trained, and they know exactly what is expected of them for each individual product that your company sells.
As a business owner, I have absolutely loved this experience. It has created efficient projects for me, and due to the laid down processes I have implemented, it means that I get the same result from each individual employee, every single time they do that job. And if an employee veers off from the set standards, or delivers inferior service, it is normally because they have not followed the process.
Some Bottlenecks We Encountered Along the Way
As with most other businesses, i have been faced with some challenges that we have had to overcome when implementing processes in our business. First of all, it was the fear of the unknown. After I had done some research, I knew that I needed processes in my business, but I almost had no idea where to begin, or how to implement it.
I was completely confused about what to do, or the tasks that needed to be documented. Second of all, it is a pain. It is a pain to try to stop from your daily routine or your daily workings, and then take a particular process to be broken down. I was used to doing my things mostly on autopilot as i had gotten so used to doing them a certain way over the years, that this was extremely difficult for me.
This can also be really beneficial as it provides clarity to you as a business owner of what you expect. The other problem that I faced and had to overcome was how to store all of these processes once they were created. Initially, I had documents upon documents, but I needed somewhere that the items could be stored so that they could be easily accessible to staff, whether they were in the office, or on the road.
How We Overcame Challenges
How did I overcome these challenges? First of all, I just started. To begin anything, you have to take the first step, and that is what I did; simply made A start. I used a time tracking software called RescueTime to keep track of exactly what I was doing on a daily basis, and then I took those tasks and broke them down.
Secondly, when I created a process, I continually worked towards its fulfilment and refined it as I went along. If something was not quite working, or I did not get the desired result once it was completed, I’d go back, review it and refine it. In doing so, I get to find the area where the problem is. It is just as simple as that.
The thing that I wished I knew when I started is exactly how beneficial this can be. My staff are happier, they know precisely what I and my tasks require from them, and I am continually getting consistent results and great reviews from my customers.
Some Additional Tips You Should Know About
There are also a few additional tips that I can provide you with for when you are creating processes in your business. First, it all begins with the staff. You need to have buy-in, and they must know the benefits and the reasons for doing it for you to get maximum input from them.
Secondly, you do not need to reinvent the wheel. I have learned that simplifying things makes most things much better. It always clarifies things when you are doing the process, making it as simple as possible for when you document.
Thirdly, try to use video or visual aspects. As tradies, we absolutely love being able to visualize things, or do it with our hands, to allow us to learn. If you have some ticks and glitches in the process, you will discover that your staff will be more reluctant to take them on board because they are harder to follow. So, try to keep it simple. Make them visual, and make them pop as brightly as possible. It works every time.
Thank you for reading. If you have further questions or need help and guidance, remember we are here to help.
