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The goal of streamlining business processes is to improve productivity and efficiency. This is done by looking at the process, identifying inefficiencies, and removing them. But what does this look like in practice? How are these improvements made? And how can you apply this process to your own organization? Here are ten ways that you can streamline your business processes. Let’s get started!
1. Determine Which Processes Need Improvement
Before anything else, identify which processes need improving. These could be ones where work doesn’t flow smoothly, or they are just too long-winded for the task at hand (like filling out forms). Once you know what needs fixing, it is time to get down to brass tacks!
2. Standardize
Once you know what needs fixing, standardize the process. This will ensure that all employees are following the same steps and give everyone a more streamlined experience. If you need to create new documents or forms, be sure to keep them simple, so they are easy to use!
3. Simplify
Once everything is standardized, it is time to simplify. Take out any unnecessary information or steps to get straight to the point. This being said, don’t eliminate essential parts of the process! You will want to have some documentation on hand just in case someone has questions.
4. Teach Employees How to Perform the Tasks
Now that everything is standardized and simplified, it is time to show your employees how they can perform these tasks. This will make sure every employee understands the process inside and out while also providing some on-the-job training. You can even set up an intranet page or document that includes diagrams with step-by-step instructions for each task.
5. Identify and Eliminate Bottlenecks
Once everything is streamlined, you will likely find a few bottlenecks. These are areas of the process where things slow down or stop altogether because there is only one person who has the tools to do it. Have that employee trained on other tasks if this is the case, so they are not bogged down with just one job! In addition, watch out for processes that require your employees to jump from task to task throughout the day – break up these multi-step processes into separate ones so each task can be completed at a time that is convenient for everyone involved!
6. Identify Tampering Points
Tampering points are exactly what they sound like – places where things can be meddled with. It is important to identify all tampering points so you can give your employees the information they need to perform their jobs without outside interference. This could mean giving them off-limits access to certain areas, increasing security in these areas, etc.
7. Standardize Processes That Are Out of Your Control
Even when you have streamlined everything in an organization, there are processes that will likely remain out of your control (like client bookkeeping). To streamline these as much as possible, have a clear policy on how bookkeeping is handled from start to finish – from receiving payments through collection and processing. You can hire reliable bookkeeping services to take care of these tasks, but if you do this, make sure rules are followed at all times!
8. Eliminate Broken Processes Completely
If a process is broken beyond repair, it needs to be eliminated. This means having a frank discussion with employees about what the benefits and drawbacks would be going forward. Then, decide on how best to move forward from that point – whether that means having one employee take on multiple roles or simply eliminating some clients altogether. For the changes to stick moving forward, it is important to get everyone’s input, so they can be fully involved in their work!
9. Get Feedback From Employees Regularly
To be as efficient as possible, you should always seek feedback from employees. This gives you an idea of how well processes and workflows are working and can help pinpoint areas that need improvement. Make sure to check in with employees regularly, so their perspective is fresh – ideally at least once per quarter!
10. Keep it Fresh!
Once everything is streamlined and running smoothly, don’t get too comfortable! It is important to keep everyone on their toes by having them adjust processes when necessary or making updates to the workflow when necessary. This will ensure your business continues to be productive for years to come!
Streamlining business processes and workflows can be a difficult process. However, if you follow these ten tips on how to streamline your own company’s workflow while considering the human brain, it should be much easier!