I am super excited to talk to you today about why you need #PoliciesandProcedures and I want to make sure you are successful with this, so pay very close attention!
So let me start with what is a policy and what is a procedure and how do they differ? Many definitions are out there, so I want to keep it as simple as possible.
A #policy defines a set of rules, for example like a shipping policy. A shipping policy can include information such as shipping costs and methods, delivery times, and more.
A #procedure defines the steps (a detailed process) you should take and can include statements of how, when and/or who performs the process(es), and sometimes what...for example a procedure for how you ship your products. This could include defined steps such as who ships the products, the frequency of when the products will ship, what is used to ship the product, etc. The key difference between the 2 are the results.
Why do you need policies and procedures? Together, policies and procedures:
Provide a roadmap for your day-to-day #operations.
They ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
Provide guidance for decision-making.
#Streamline internal processes.
Most importantly, they provide a consistent experience for your #customers.
However, policies and procedures won't do your business any good if you or your employees don't follow them. Whether your business is manufacturing candles or hair care products or a transportation service, the product or service is only as good as the process by which it is delivered to the customer.
Take the activities from the previous blog (workload download) and create policies and procedures based on the essential operations. For example, during a pandemic like COVID-19 you may need to create a Work From Home Policy or a Company Cyber Security Policy because you may have to shift operations to allow employees to work from home, or you may have to shift from your office to working from home because the kids are out of school. You can create these through text, audio, video, in any format as long as they are documented. Then ask yourself, if someone else aside from you read your policies and procedures would they be able to duplicate the exact result you do, without knowing what you do? Your policies and procedures set the tone for your internal and external #CustomerExperience, so make them count.
If you need help with this, we offer a service where we can create and document your policies and procedures completely #DoneForYou. We will audit and assess your current policies and procedures and create these assets for your company following our format. Schedule your #Strategy Call now and let’s chat so #Love4Systems can propel your business to the next level.