Without a Hitch

In the fast-paced world we live in, time is of the essence, and efficiency one key to success.  When we are managing a business or a team, having a set of well-defined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) can significantly enhance productivity and consistency. As an individual, I have come to realize the tremendous benefits of applying the same principles that drive successful business processes to my personal work routine. SOPs are detailed step-by-step instructions that outline how to perform tasks, ensure quality, and maintain consistency in operations. They are commonly utilized in businesses to streamline workflows, minimize errors, and facilitate training. However, their value extends far beyond the wide corporate realm. Embracing SOPs on a personal level has allowed me to take control of my time, eliminate unnecessary stress, and achieve my goals more effectively. The first step in adopting personal SOPs is to identify recurring tasks and activities in our daily routine. The...

  Statistical Process Control was designed to keep our processes as lean and consistent as possible and I was introduced to this on the shop floor when I was involved in the investment casing industry. When I left the shop floor, I continued to use this process to look at how I did what I did.   In sales it was looking at calls per day or visits per month, we could see that there was a number that, if we reached it, would help us get as close to our sales goal or exceed them. In a customer service role I had, we were able to determine how long we should let someone wait for their appointment before we check in and/or get necessary information to give them a better idea of when they will be taken care of.   (For us It was 5 Minutes by the way) When I was supervising a customer service team, one of the most effective use of SPC was tracking “on hold times” which was one of the biggest indicators of an agent who needed more training or at least some attention.  ...