For many people running a business, a policies and procedures manual is usually not the first thing they think about drafting. They usually draft some form of a business plan to help guide their vision. Then, they simply get to work. Some business owners don’t see how a policies and procedures manual can benefit their business. After all, can’t you just tell your team members what you expect? While you can verbally express your vision for the business and how you want things done, you won’t always have time to repeat instructions. Your team members are only human. They could forget parts (or all) of what you said and simply do what they thought you said instead of what you actually said. There is no doubt about it: developing and implementing a policies and procedures manual is good for your business.
Policies and Procedures Creates Structure
Many people start a business because they want to set their own priorities. It’s about conducting in the way that you believe it should happen. Yet, when the business expands, you (rightfully) want new employees to follow the procedures that are already in use. Why? Because the you know they work. It’s also likely that you’ve chosen your business methods to reflect the mission of your business.
Writing and implementing a policies and procedures manual is about creating structure in your business. It’s about consistency. Your policies and procedures manual should include every major aspect of your business. For example, marketing, client intake, billing, and customer service. By outlining how you want each of these areas handled in your business, you’re setting guidelines that create structure for your employees.
Preparing for Compliance and Auditing
If you own a business in an industry that’s subject to compliance and auditing, a written policies and procedures manual can help make the process easier. By writing out each step that your employees should follow, you’re working to minimize the likelihood that your business is not compliant with local or federal laws regulate your business.
A Training Tool for Your Employees
Policies and procedures help you by acting as a training tool for your employees. The document isn’t a replacement for on the job training, answering questions, or clarifying business practices. It’s a tool that employees and new employees can use as a training reference. A well written policies and procedures manual should online every step in every task that your employee is responsible for doing. When you’re unavailable to answer a question, your employee can consult the manual for an answer.
Helps You Measure Your Employee’s Performance
New employee probation and annual employee reviews are important because it gives you and the employee information on what they’re doing well and what needs to improve. A written policies and procedures manual that your employees are encouraged to use can help you measure their performance.
Professional Assistant with Your Policies and Procedures Manual
At Clients ARM, we understand the time crunch business owners deal with each day. We provide professional assistance for businesses in need of a policies and procedures manual. We’ll draft your policies and procedures manual from current best practices and based on the business practices used in your business. To schedule your free consultation to discuss your need for policies and procedures, call us today. There’s no obligation!
