Standard operating procedure in practice

Getting procedures written and actually used. The gap between having them and running on them.

What it means

An SOP documents how a recurring task is done. This entry is about the part that fails: adoption.

Why it matters

Procedures written once and filed are a compliance artefact. Procedures used daily are what let a business run without the owner in the room.

What it looks like in practice

Write them where the work happens — in the system, on the wall, in the checklist — not in a folder. Have the next person to do the task update it.\n\nStart with the tasks that are frequent, risky, or done by more than one person.

What to watch out for

Documenting a broken process, which scales the problem. Fix it first.

Where to get proper advice

Your own team, who know where the procedure and the practice diverge and are rarely asked.