DD #1 – Outline your workflows
In this first release of the Digital Directive, we’re diving into the practical first steps you can take to start owning your workflow!
Your workflow should be top of mind when building a business in any industry
When is the project due?
What are my employees doing?|
Where can I track performance?
How can I get more things done?
Do you have your own version of these questions? We’re going to help you get answers today!
This is why you need a workflow
Workflows are important because they help us understand how, what, and when something is going to be accomplished. In a proper workflow, you know when something starts, approximately how long it should take, and all the steps (in order) to get said thing from ideation to implementation.
There’s more to it, though; we also want to know who is doing what parts of the process, what resources they need to complete the said process, and how the hand-off between steps in this process will go. What about when it’s done? We need to have SOPs (standard operating procedures) in place, that direct us on what to do next.
Having a workflow standardizes your process and keeps everyone in order, but it can also open new opportunities for expanding your business. Even more, they can add additional revenue on top of what’s already happening because it’s as simple as adding another step in the process.
Here’s what to consider in your workflow outline
Now the first workflow you consider should be the heart of your business, the thing that drives everything else. Here are eight aspects of your process you should think about, be sure to leave no stones unturned:
- Start point, end point (timeline)
- Hand-off points, benchmarks, natural break points (steps)
- Who’s involved? (people)
- What parts of the process are they involved in? (roles)
- What materials or resources are involved? (cost)
- What commences the process? (trigger)
- What information is needed? (pre-requisites)
- What tools or software are required to do it?
Here’s how to get started today (for free!)
Now that you’ve started thinking about your workflows and outlining your current processes, it’s time to visualize it. Visually outlining your workflow is how you’ll discover unknown dependencies, roadblocks, and find better ways to mitigate errors and streamline the entire system.
Since we’re seeking to outline a digital process and looking to amend the system, we’re going to want to use a digital mind mapping tool of some kind. There are dozens of great options, but we’ve always loved Figma because of its diverse tools.
Figma offers a great free plan which is perfect for doing what we need. Get Started on Figma
Track your tasks daily as a team!
In our next directive, we’re touching on ways to start managing tasks effectively. We’ve got a great way for you and your team to take back control of your days and start getting more done in less time.
Add our Daily To-Do Tasks Template to your Work OS!
Start managing tasks better
