Post #6 in a multi-part series from the excellent book Traction by Gino Wickman

Process – The secret component to successful organizations.

The old saying is that “you generally can’t understand a system while you are in it”.   Most of the time you have to raise your head out of it for a while to see it.  You must be able to systemize what you have built.  This is your “franchise prototype”.

Doing things because “it’s how we have always done it” isn’t good enough.

Document your core processes:   3 Stages

Break down your core processes.   Schedule an hour with your leadership team to discuss and it must be in person.   Take at least an hour.   Must identify and agree.   Everyone has to be on the same page and speaking the same language.

Document what happens in all of them.  Create an accountability chart for each of your core processes.   Document the 20% that produces 80% of the results.   Should be high level.   Likely around 6 pages.  No skipping steps.

Use checklists.  Checklists are an effective way to make sure people don’t screw them up.  Technology must improve your way of doing things.   No just bring new features.

The core processes should be drilled down so tight that- if you disappeared, the company could live on.   Compile this info for everyone in the company.  Put in on the shelf with the label “The [yourcompany] Way”

Then you just make sure they are followed by all.  Everyone on the leadership team has to be committed to this 1 way.  They must be committed to doing the processes in the plan.   You have to create a clear illustration of what your vision looks like and how this gets them to what THEY want.

Create a circle of life visual.  Present it to everyone.  Train to it.  Refer back to it for resolutions.  This allows you to replicate and grow.