Importance Of Documenting Processes And Procedures For Just One Person

The importance of documenting processes and procedures shows up much when firms scale. They need many employees to work as one in a consistent way. Yet, it doesn’t show up much for one employee who has done a job hundreds of times. Small firms and units are prime culprits.

Five Reasons Showing the Importance Of Documenting For One

With this in mind then, let’s just focus on the one person. Ignore the intellectual capital we can pass on by documenting. How does it help? There are five ways. They show the importance of documenting processes and procedures for her.

1. Reducing Thinking

First and foremost, it reduces thinking. Stopping and thinking about the next step costs time. It might not be much, but multiply it by every single step and it mounts.

Even though an employee might be able to do the work in his sleep, it does not negate the importance of documenting processes and procedures to help him.

2. Calming Under Stress

Stress exists in the workplace. It makes it hard to think. Following things in writing can have a huge calming effect. This wards off all the costs stress causes.

3. Instilling Importance In The Work

Emotional benefits exist too. The work seems more important, more valued. This boosts an employee’s sense of his contribution to the enterprise. It’s more tangible. This shows up in quality.

4. Warding Off Distractions

Distractions and multitasking abound. Documentation helps workers ward of their bad effects. It becomes a checklist. It tells them where they left off. They don’t have to think or retrace steps.

5. Upping Efficiency

Finally, documenting processes and procedures for one ups efficiency in a myriad of ways. The first four reasons above give hints of others. The coordination and integration of work compounds the effect of seconds and minutes lost at each step.

Testing the Importance Of Documenting Processes and Procedures For One

Take a small process. By mistake, I took loading a blog post. I’ve done it hundreds of times. The real goal was to begin moving it to someone else. I came up with forty-one steps.

As I tested the process though, I not only refined the steps. I began to see a time savings of almost 30%, especially if I had to stop and pick up a day or two later.

I also found a better appreciation for the work. This made me rethink the person and training needed to do this for me.

So, go ahead. Do a test. Document a small process or set of procedures for yourself. Then follow it. You’ll be amazed at the importance of documenting processes and procedures for just one person. I was. Then, I documented a few more.