Operational Excellence Checklist
The 30 processes every small business must document.
“Operational excellence is not a competitive advantage — it's a table stake. You either have it invisibly powering you, or you notice its absence every day.”
The Insight
The difference between a well-run SMB and a chaotic one isn't strategy or talent — it's the hundred tiny processes that either exist and are followed, or don't. Each missing one feels cheap. Combined, they're what separates a £5M business from a £15M one.
01
The Customer-Facing Twelve
Each documented on a single page, owned by one person, reviewed quarterly. These twelve cover 80% of customer experience variance.
02
The Team-Facing Ten
Each of these is a point at which a small business either looks professional or improvisational — and great employees notice the difference within their first month.
03
The Operational Eight
The Takeaway
Thirty processes, one page each, one owner each, reviewed quarterly. Install this system in six months and your business runs on rails — not on adrenaline.
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