Diving Into the Operations Manual

The operation manual is the heart of a business and one of the most critical steps for compliance, legislation, streamlining, increasing efficiency, marketing effectively, developing a growth plan, and saving money and time. But it should never be condescending, complicated, dull, or vague.

What is Included

When developing your Operations Manual consider including the following important business needs as it improves your marketing, assists with obtaining financing, trouble shoots and streamlines your business, simplifies onboarding, identifies your document and email hierarchy and more.

• Mission Statement - It should be emotionally stirring, communicates why, is memorable, is surprising, actionable, specific, and can be spoken in one or two sentences.
• Vision Statement - Needs to be clear, concise, realistic, inspiring, not too broad, and one or two sentences.
• Core Values - Used to align your business policies, hiring practices, and vision plan.
• Story - A well-done story gives consumers a compelling reason to buy from you.
• Organization Chart - Multi uses such as, revealing your document hierarchy and simplifying onboarding.
• Policies - Polices are a set of general guidelines that outline the organization’s plan for tackling issues. It also includes preventative practices and regulations.
• Processes - The processes include all the information to execute the task quickly and flawlessly.
• Job Descriptions - Job descriptions include role details and establish onboarding procedures such as which access is necessary. Having staff able to begin working the same day they start makes a difference.
• Vision Plan Action Steps - Consider including the business history and current status, products/services, unique features, risks and opportunities, goals and objectives within a time frame, action steps, and a contingency plan.

No Time to Get It Done?

There are professionals that work with you and your team who can get it done quickly, have the experience to ask the right questions, and know the best formats for your industry because without it, as your business grows there will be many problems that would not exist if you had the Operations Manual.

By Cheryl Erickson