An operational manual is a tool created by the business owner, administrator or other person that details how to do
English: This image shows the life cycle of a task by using a state machine flow diagram. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
the tasks and jobs necessary to operate the business.
Every task within the business from answering the phone to cleaning the kitchen area to paying or collecting money can have a detailed process to be followed. When you get clear on the way things are to be done it is simple to manage the business regardless of who works in the business.
There are three mistakes many business owners make in writing their manual. These are:
- Thinking that it is unnecessary and never writing one. This is especially true of one man bands but if you ever want to hire someone, you need to have the process that you want them to follow written down.
- Making the processes so complicated that no one can follow them or implement them
- Never reviewing and updating when new equipment, people or services or products are added to the business.
A simple operations manual is written as follows:
Task or Job Title
Who does this task
When do they do this task
Why is this task necessary (the purpose of the task)
How the task is to be done (the measurables)
Where to go for more information or support in doing the task
Keep it simple. Have any staff review it often. And as a business owner, remember the more working in the tasks you can delegate to others, the more time you have to grow your business.
To your operating success
Roberta Budvietas
Maven Connect
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