Standard operating procedures (SOPs) describe the step-by-step process for executing tasks.

Any repeatable task, whether it happens on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, should have an SOP.

Not everyone nerds out about SOPs as much as I do, but they are one way to strengthen the resiliency of your business. Clear documentation will empower your team and make your business more scalable.

Documenting a standard process for your tasks can:

• Minimize errors
• Identify efficiencies
• Reduce the number of decisions that have to be made each time the task is completed
• Lessen the risk of company knowledge being retained by only one or a handful of individuals.

Here are four steps for creating your SOPs:

Document as you do.

The easiest way to get started is by jotting down a list of everything you do as you go about your day. Anything that’s repeatable should be added to the list so it can eventually be documented.

Pick one task from your list and create a simple bullet list that describes how you complete it.

Keep this high level to start with. For example:

Layer in more detail. Exactly how do you do each part of the process?

Break each bullet point down into easy to follow steps. For example:

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