Do You Know Your Biggest Process Compliance Barrier?

Do you ever wonder, "why isn't our team following our processes?" 

Have you ever rolled out a new process, only to find that—despite your best efforts—your team keeps skipping steps, reverting to old habits, or outright ignoring it?

You're not alone. Many entrepreneurs and business leaders face this challenge. You spend hours optimistically documenting SOPs, checklists, and workflows, believing they’ll bring order and efficiency. But then… chaos returns.

So what’s really going on?

After working with hundreds of businesses, I’ve found that the biggest barrier to process adoption isn’t frontline employees—it’s us, the leaders.

How Leaders Sabotages Process Compliance (Without Realizing It)

As leaders, we move fast. We see problems before they happen, and we know when a step in a process feels unnecessary (or, at least, unnecessary this time). In the rush to get results, we make quick calls:

• “Just get it done—skip the documentation for now.”
• “We need to close this deal; let’s make an exception.”
• “I’ll fix it myself—it’s faster than explaining.”

Each of these decisions might feel harmless, even necessary, in the moment. But they send a powerful message to everyone else: Processes are optional.

And if they’re optional for leadership, they’re optional for everyone.

I’ve been there myself. 

Years ago, my finance team rolled out a new expense approval process. We documented everything and implemented a clear structure. But one day, a leader bypassed the system for a last-minute request. Without thinking, I approved it.

The result?

• My finance team was frustrated.
• Other managers saw the shortcut and started doing the same.
• Soon, the “new process” became just another suggestion—completely ignored.

When leaders don’t follow the process, their teams won’t either. And once that happens, you no longer have a process. You have chaos.

Small Shortcuts Create Big Problems

Consider this: A company has a design process that guarantees smooth approvals. But a department head, in a rush, tells an employee, “Just send me the request directly—I’ll push it through faster.”

The employee complies. But then, the approval team rejects the request because it skipped the proper steps. Now:

• The employee is frustrated.
• The approval team is annoyed.
• The leader has unintentionally signaled that processes are just red tape.

What happens next? People start questioning whether any process really needs to be followed. Compliance drops, errors increase, and accountability erodes.

The EOS ‘Followed By All’ (FBA) Checklist

How do you fix this? How do you ensure leaders set the right example?

In the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), there’s a simple but powerful concept: The Followed By All (FBA) Checklist. The FBA Checklist ensures that once your processes are documented, simplified, and packaged -- that they’re actually adopted across the company.

Here’s how to make it stick:

✅ Train: Process compliance isn’t a one-time event—it requires ongoing coaching and check-ins. What’s your training schedule?

✅ Measure: Track key process metrics. If there’s no number attached, there’s no accountability.

✅ Manage: If a process isn’t followed, is there a consequence? More training needed? A serious discussion?

✅ Update: At least once a year, evaluate your processes. Are they still efficient? Are they being followed? If not, why?

The No-Exceptions Approach

Want your processes to stick? Hold the line—especially at the leadership level: 

🚫 No making exceptions “just this once.” 

🚫 No skipping steps because you're “too busy.” 

🚫 No assuming your team will follow processes you don’t personally use.

Process compliance doesn’t start with frontline employees. It starts with us.

 Next Step: Getting Your Leadership Team On-Board

🔹 Consider making process compliance a leadership measurable – Leaders should be measured on their ability to follow and enforce processes. This includes you, founders and sales leaders!

🔹 Audit leadership adherence first – Before getting frustrated with your employees, check if your leadership team is following the process.

🔹 Tie processes to real outcomes – The process owner is responsible for being the champion of the process – regardless of who is using it. Share how following processes directly improves efficiency, profitability, and team morale. Share the wins!

🔹 Eliminate ‘gray areas’ – Define which processes must be complied with 100% and which are high level guidelines. Remove ambiguity.

Final Thought: Look in the Mirror First

The next time you’re frustrated that your team isn’t following a process, stop and ask yourself: “Is my leadership team following it? Am I?”

Because if you or they aren’t, you’ve found your real process compliance issue. 

The good news is, you can solve THAT issue.

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