| This last point surprised me as I thought that most companies had reached a hybrid work-from-home (WFH) compromise. A recent NY Times article states that "many workplaces have settled into a new hybrid phase, where offices are at about half their prepandemic occupancy levels and about a quarter of American workdays are done from home." Time will tell if this is the "new normal" or not.
For many companies, the issue of remote work remains unresolved. Nonetheless, as leaders, we must transform our operational strategies to accommodate this uncertain reality.
One tool that can capture your best practices and ensure those practices are followed by all is— you guessed it—Process!
Businesses that document and simplify their processes can streamline remote work and foster transparency and alignment among teams. Using the 20-80 approach championed by EOS® and in our EOS® Traction Library book Process!, the effectiveness cannot be denied. In fact, successful businesses with multiple locations have leveraged this approach for decades.
If your company has a remote workforce, here are some advantages of embracing process documentation and adoption:
- Real-Time Performance Tracking. Documented processes enable quick performance oversight. Imagine a WFH call center. Real time tracking or measurables allows leaders to swiftly gauge and refine service quality.
- Knowledge Sharing & Training. Documented processes serve as a pivotal resource for training. For instance, an architectural firm can consistently instruct remote designers on upholding quality standards.
- Minimized Errors. Outlining critical tasks through documentation reduces mistakes. In a construction firm, this action ensures that remote designers perform a site check to accurately align measurements with reality.
- Enhanced Accountability. Consistent operations are guaranteed through documented processes. In a software company company, for example, specific update protocols ensure minimal customer website downtime.
- Improved Team Collaboration. Documented processes offer role clarity and coordination. For marketing agencies, a standardized content approval process ensures synchronized efforts across different markets or time zones.
- Scalability Support. Documentation aids easy onboarding and company expansion. Tech start-ups, for instance, efficiently integrate new developers with clear and consistent coding standards.
- Resource Efficiency. Process documentation streamlines resource use. In the context of healthcare, telemedicine protocols optimize scheduling and technical allocation.
- Compliance Facilitation. For businesses under specific regulations, processes also serve as compliance guidelines. A financial service provider's documentation ensures data privacy law adherence across regions.
This industry could be construction, manufacturing, healthcare, or technology. Using documented and simplified processes to train your teams ensures that you understand your team's activities. Whether or not they are in front of you. The necessity of documented processes in any WFH environment stretches beyond mere operational needs. The impact encompasses the strategic and cultural alignment vital in an entrepreneurial business.
In an onsite or remote business world where change is the only constant, getting your processes documented, simplified, and followed by all can driving accountability within your organization.
Share your thoughts and insights. I'd love to hear them! |
