Introduction to Following a Process Effectively
For companies that use the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS Model®), you’ll probably recognize that the Process component is one of the most neglected parts of any business that is struggling to grow.
There’s absolutely no point in creating new processes for your business if they’re not followed by all your staff. In this article, we’ll share practical tips and tricks to ensure that your team not only learns to follow the process but also genuinely LOVES each step.
Why Do You Need People to Follow the Process?
Let’s start from the beginning – why do people actually need to follow processes within your business?
Consistency
Processes ensure that tasks and activities are performed consistently, reducing the likelihood of errors or oversights. Consistency is essential for maintaining quality and meeting customer expectations by ensuring everyone is following the process accurately.
Efficiency
Well-defined processes streamline workflows, eliminating unnecessary steps and bottlenecks. This efficiency translates itno time and cost savings, allowing resources to be utilized more effectively.
Scalability
As businesses grow, the demand for consistent and efficient operations increases. Processes provide a scalable framework, allowing companies to handle larger volumes of work without sacrificing quality or effectiveness.
Accountability
Clearly defined processes help establish accountability within a team. Each individual knows their role and responsibilities, reducing confusion and fostering a sense of ownership over tasks, ensuring that everyone is following a process that keeps them aligned.
Adaptability
Processes can be designed to be flexible, allowing businesses to adapt to changing market conditions, new technologies, or shifts in customer preferences. This adaptability is crucial for staying competitive in dynamic environments.
The aim is for your processes to be ‘Followed by All’ (FBA). This isn’t just a checkbox exercise, it’s a commitment embraced by every member of the team. It represents a shared dedication to excellence, where every individual understands the importance of adhering to established procedures.
And it’s a crucial element to helping you scale and grow your business.
Why Do People Struggle with Following Processes?
Even though we all know that following the process leads to the best results, let’s be honest—it doesn’t always happen. Here are a few reasons why sticking to processes can be challenging:
❌ Resistance to change
❌ Lack of understanding of its importance
❌ Processes that aren’t clearly defined
❌ Disagreement with how the process has been set up
❌ Insufficient training
❌ Lack of accountability
❌ It feels BORING
But don’t worry! Just because things aren’t going smoothly right now doesn’t mean you can’t turn them around. Sometimes, all you need is a bit of process magic ✨ to make things click.
How to get your team to not just follow, but LOVE, processes?
More than 50% of organizations are actively working to improve their business processes, recognizing that they perform better when processes are aligned with overall goals. But if you want your team to truly follow the process consistently, it’s all about making it engaging and relevant for them.
The goal isn’t just to throw a bunch of new processes at them and hope for the best. Instead, involve them at every step—from identifying areas that need improvement to designing the processes and training the team. The more involved they feel, the more likely they are to embrace and champion your processes. 🏆
We’ll get on to our FBA checklist shortly, but first, let’s take a look at some of the key things you need to remember when setting out your new and improved processes.
Start with Why
It’s important to start by clearly explaining to your team why you’re updating your processes, why they need to adhere to them and what benefits it will have for them (and the business!) Make them see how beneficial it will be to their working lives.
Celebrate
If things are going well – celebrate it! Recognize the achievements you make as a team and give everyone the kudos they deserve for a job well done. Acknowledgment, incentives, or even a simple thank-you can go a long way in boosting morale and motivation.
Lead by example
As a leader, it’s on you to set the tone. When leaders prioritize and follow processes, it creates a ripple effect that encourages others to do the same. There’s nothing worse than telling others to follow a process while doing the opposite!
The FBA Checklist You Need to Ensure Processes Are Followed by All
Train
Make sure everyone involved in a process goes through thorough training that explains how it works and how it impacts their role. Keep it engaging and interactive so that they understand the value of following the process.
Encourage feedback during training, giving your team a chance to contribute to the process by suggesting improvements and highlighting specific areas they think could be refined. This helps build ownership and alignment.
Measure
Make sure you’re keeping track of the changes that your new processes are having. A great way to do this is to track:
- Compliance (whether people are following the processes)
- Frequency (whether they’re doing it often enough to make traction)
- Outcomes (whether they’re getting the right results)
With this information, you can provide feedback to your team on where they can make improvements to get consistently good results.
Manage
Expect some resistance when implementing new processes, and that’s okay! The important thing is to listen to the feedback from your team and, where feasible, incorporate their suggestions. The goal is for everyone to be on board and following the process comfortably.
Update
This isn’t a one-time process – it’s a continuous circle of improvement. Create a feedback loop where employees can provide input on processes and actively seek suggestions for improvement. Make sure you demonstrate a commitment to making adjustments based on the feedback you get.
How Technology Can Help Ensure Processes Are Followed by All
The EOS 3-Step Process Documenter™ is a powerful tool that helps you follow a process from the desired outcome, working backwards to define the essential steps. While highly effective, it can also be time-consuming. This is where Whale steps in to streamline and support your process management.
Step 1: Identify Core Processes
List out the handful of core processes that make your business successful. Remember, you just need to document the 20% of processes that get you 80% of the results you need.
💡 ACTION STEP
Whale helps you do this with a selection of core process templates to get started. Take a look at our full EOS template gallery.
Step 2: Document
Now that you have identified your core processes in the form of a short list, it’s time to think about HOW you want to document them.
With a pen and paper? Or digitally?
While a pen and paper still has its role in writing letters to loved ones, we’d strongly recommend going down the digital route for business processes.
There are a range of digital options, from simply using Google Docs or Word to using more advanced platforms. However, to truly bring The 3-Step Process Documenter to life, you will need a platform like Whale in order to have your processes FBA.
💡 ACTION STEP
Take each of those core processes and document them in just a few minutes with our AI Assist tool.
Step 3: Package for Easy Access
Creating documentation that’s easy to understand and engaging is essential to getting it followed by all. Think about how you want to present these processes:
- A simple text document?
- A checklist accessible on mobile?
- An instructional video?
Creating engaging documentation is essential to having your processes followed. If Netflix can do it, so can you!
💡 ACTION STEP
Whale centralizes all your processes, making them easy to access and share. Automated notifications ensure your team gets updates whenever there’s a change, so everyone stays informed and aligned
Discover why Whale is the perfect companion for the EOS Process Component™.
Bottom Line: Ensuring Processes Are Followed by All
Following well-defined processes is essential for any company using the EOS model to sustain growth and achieve lasting success.
When it comes to making processes stick, the key is in the execution. How are you communicating your processes to the team? Are you involving the right people from the start? Are processes organized and accessible? Address these areas, and you’ll guide your team toward a collaborative, efficient operation where tasks aren’t just completed—they’re followed by all.
Embracing these best practices solidifies your commitment to the EOS model and lays the groundwork for greater efficiency, improved outcomes, and a thriving, resilient business.
So, take the leap and try the FBA method. Make sure your processes are followed by all!
TL:DR
- Process component is one of the most neglected parts of any business that is struggling to grow.
- To achieve efficiency, consistency, and scalability, everyone needs to follow a process.
- To have your processes followed by all (FBA), make sure your teams understand the why. Also celebrate team members and lead by example.
- The FBA checklist you need is train, measure, manage and update.
- Whale helps you identify, document and package your processes in no time.
Get documenting & training NOW
FAQs about Follow a Process
Why is it important to follow a process?
Processes matter because they outline how things should be done, providing a foundation for consistency and improvement. By following structured processes, you ensure that tasks are carried out effectively, increasing the chances of successful outcomes. When you focus on refining and optimizing the right processes, you’re essentially designing a roadmap to success—one that’s repeatable, reliable, and geared toward long-term growth.
How to Ensure a Process is Followed by All
- Document Clearly
Ensure every process is well-defined and accessible. - Share with the Team
Make sure everyone knows the “how” and “why” of each process. - Integrate into Systems
Embed processes into daily workflows to make them routine. - Foster Engagement
Build a culture where following processes is part of the team’s commitment to success.
These steps help your team embrace and consistently follow the processes that drive results.
