Spoiler alert – YES!!
When we think about implementing ground rules, we often think of the good impacts it can have on whatever is at stake: the rules give us a feeling that there is a standard to upkeep, or a landmark to refer to in case we are unsure about something. When it comes to running your business, the same is true with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These make your business flow smoothly and remain organised without having a few employees get lost in their various tasks. Let’s have a look at how SOPs can help your business THRIVE.
Consistency Is Key
In sociology, one of the most well-known concepts is that of McDonaldization. A concept established by George Ritzer, it attempts to explain why McDonald’s worked well and how it is applied to other concepts in society, from other restaurant chains to department stores and small businesses. One of the key points that made McDonald’s succeed? Consistency. When a customer comes in, they know what to expect, wherever they are in the world. The same can be applied to your business– with SOPs, your employees know exactly what to expect and can therefore perform better because they aren’t confused by the task at hand. They hence spend less time wondering what they are supposed to be doing and instead, they do it instinctively.
Less Training
Similarly, with SOPs, your business does not have to spend as much time training its employees as the guidelines set in place work to keep the job as simple as possible. Instead of training each new employee for many hours on end, which ultimately costs your business money, you can simply provide the guidelines and thereby avoid confusion. A perfect example of this is whenever a business implements a new virtual assistant– with clear SOP, the VA can begin working right away, making it less expensive for the employer as billed hours are not needed to learn how to master the trade.
More Predictability Means Fewer Errors
Of course, the clearer the guidelines, the easier it is for your employees to refer back to these to figure out where they may be making a mistake. When your SOPs are clear and easy to understand, your employees can also learn how to work in a way that works both for them and for your business, which can mean fewer errors as they become accustomed to this specific standard. With written, clear expectations, your employees are hence less likely to make mistakes simply because these are easily learned and hence avoided.
Transferring Work Is a Piece of Cake
If you have ever worked with a temporary team, or even just a temporary employee, you know just how painful it is to run them through the many processes and aspects of your business. This is time that is valuable as after all, time is money. Instead of spending this time helping a new employee settle down only to see them leave after a few weeks, SOPs do the job for you. If they have questions, they can come to you and ask, but you get your time back!
At the end of the day, implementing SOPs can be quite the time saver and can additionally save you money as you have more hours to work on important tasks instead of training new employees. Try them out and see if they help your business’ productivity!