𝗦𝗢𝗣𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 are essential for companies of various sizes, whether small, medium, or large.
Today, I am writing about the importance of SOPs and startups. I would first like to start with the code repeatedly said by Anupam Mittal, the CEO of, Sadhi.com on Shark Tank.
“𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗢𝗣 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻. “
A couple of startup founders can do it faster. It’s easy to fall into the mindset of “I can do it faster myself” or to believe that “no one else can do it right.” But what happens when the task can’t wait, and you’re out of the office? Reluctance to delegate can hinder long-term growth, but this kind of thinking can be remedied by taking the time to create standard operating procedures (SOPs).
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗽𝘀:
Using SOPs to document how to perform tasks can help businesses minimize knowledge loss. Too often, companies can make the mistake of having just one or two individuals be responsible for mentally retaining all information related to a given task or procedure. But what if a crucial team member takes a sick day, goes on vacation, or leaves the company?
Without a SOP, all that knowledge would need to be recreated on the fly. This can tie up resources, cause inefficiencies, and introduce otherwise preventable mistakes. With a SOP, critical tasks can be completed similarly, regardless of who’s on schedule.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗦𝗢𝗣𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁?
Consider some of the most prominent examples of successful enterprise pivots. Once a fledgling e-commerce app, Pinterest pivoted to become a ‘collection’ network. Groupon started life as a fundraising platform before pivoting, which allowed it to focus purely on offering discounts on shopping brands.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐨 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐧?
A company pivot would be more effortless with some form of procedure change or creation of an SOP. Small companies and innovators are always ready to change and evolve at short notice, primarily thanks to their unique approach to SOPs.
A typical operating procedure keeps quality in clear focus.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲
The “do it myself” approach might seem efficient in the short term, but the benefits of SOPs can be invaluable for long-term success. Crafting them can feel daunting, especially for smaller companies or busy entrepreneurs. By investing time in SOPs now, businesses can lay the foundation for sustained growth and stability in the future.