Work should be done consistently as much as possible to
reduce disorganization and confusion. Consistency is the essence of standardization, which creates many benefits.
For example,
standardization is helpful in:
- Doing the same task, in the same way, every time, no matter who is doing that task.
- Defining how to organize documents, client files, and other important information so that no one is confused about where to put things, or where to find them.
- Defining how to name files, or other important documents, so that no one has to waste time thinking about how to do a task that will be performed several times (see e.g. this File Naming Policy).
In general, the
benefits of standardization are that it:
- Improves clarity — because standard procedures and processes eliminate guesswork
- Improves quality — because all work is done in a pre-defined, optimized way
- Improves productivity — because people won’t need to waste time trying to figure out how things are "supposed to be done."
- Improves morale — because people take pride in having mastered key processes and in having refined their skills
- Improves the client experience — because every matter is handled in the best possible way no matter who is handling it
Below are some specific examples of helpful policies that foster useful standardization:
Bottom Line:
As much as possible, you should strive to do similar tasks in the same way according to our documented procedures and process. And we should strive to
update procedures and processes so we can
share our best practices with each other.
The end goal is to be as organized as possible, and to avoid (or at least minimize) confusion about how to perform common tasks, and how to make key decisions.
Want to Learn More?
Learning how to standardize workflows is
an important Key To Creating Systems. To learn more about doing this for your firm,
check this out.
