The Profit is in the Details of your Business Process

Companies using detailed process maps are getting results quickly. They also have another advantage. The process maps are a great help for training new and existing employees and employees who have been promoted or transferred. Perhaps the most important by-product that I've seen with process mapping is giving your employees a new perspective on their work while powerfully illustrating inefficiencies and gaps. It prepares the work force for change by presenting an objective look at the potential benefits of moving beyond the status quo. Some companies believe that getting departments together to collaborate like this results in increased productivity. There certainly will be a greater understanding of everyone's jobs.

In the midst of an economic downturn, it is the perfect time to review the processes your employees use to serve their internal and external customers. In summary, process mapping provides these critical benefits to any organization:

• It enables the team to tap into and trace the paths within your business to the customer and back again to the company.
• It ensures that the team can pull together to create real value for your customers while building profit for the company.
• It helps individuals understand and accept organizational changes across functions.
• It provides the framework for measuring performance goals, which people can set for themselves.

There is a lot of detail in a process map, because each process is very detailed. But it is worth the time because there is profit in the details.

Linda Hanson, CMC, is a certified management consultant and author of 10 Steps to Marketing Success. She writes, speaks and consults on marketing, management and customer service issues and can be contacted at www.llhenterprises.com. Sign up for her free newsletter The Superior Performance Report.