Don’t Make a Static SOP

Summary

• Just like someone who weighs themselves every day, I need to be the "scale" for my team. By measuring their progress consistently, they stay on track.
• I check in on my team regularly because it keeps them accountable and motivated.
• People say I'm a very hands-on CEO, which is true. Being hands-on helps me stay involved and know exactly what's happening.
• Some of the best CEOs are very hands-on and involved in many aspects of the business. It's demanding but rewarding if you enjoy it and are good at it.
• I use a living SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) in Asana. For example, when recruiting, there are 20 tasks, and each one needs to be checked off with notes.
• Having tasks where people must take action, like writing notes when they complete something, ensures they actually engage with and understand the SOPs.

Video

How To Take Action

I suggest implementing the practice of consistent measurement for your team’s progress. Just like weighing yourself daily helps in maintaining or achieving weight goals, regularly checking in with your team ensures they stay on track. It’s a low-cost, high-value activity that keeps everyone accountable and motivated.

Being hands-on is another strategy that can significantly benefit your business. Dive into various aspects, understand what’s happening, and involve yourself in the processes. This approach demands time and energy but offers rewarding insights and helps in making better-informed decisions.

To manage tasks more effectively, use a living SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) system. Tools like Asana can be really useful for this. Break down your processes into clear, actionable tasks. For example, if recruiting, have 20 specific tasks, each requiring a check-off and notes upon completion. This ensures that your team engages with and fully understands the procedures, rather than just skimming through.

Regularly integrate these check-ins and updates into your weekly routine. It doesn't require much time but adds tremendous value by ensuring that everyone is on the same page and that progress is consistent.

By focusing on these strategies, you can achieve better organizational health and drive more efficient growth without incurring significant costs.

Full Transcript

just like somebody who weighs themsel every day you're the scale to your team you are the thing that is supposed to measure them and so if they know that you're checking in on their weight they are much more likely to stay lean or to stay on track a lot of people have told me in the past you're a really Hands-On CEO really tactical CEO well ironically if you look at some of the best CEOs in the world they talk about how Hands-On they are they talk about how many things they're involved in how much stuff they know now is that something for everybody not necessarily it's really tough it's very demanding on your life but if you like it and you're good at it you can make an sop and it's just static and people just read it and say that they did it or you can make a living sop which is what I have in Asana which is say there's 20 tasks to recruit a person into the company and you have to check off and write notes in each task to indicate that you've done it if somebody does not have to take action to indicate that they have read something it is very unlikely that they're actually going to read and do it