Your business is an organism, “a complex structure of interdependent and subordinate elements whose relations and properties are largely determined by their function in the whole,” per Merrriam-Webster.com.

It consists of the systems, structures, and documentation that keep it running. But sometimes it doesn’t run as smoothly as you would like. Or it won’t in the future if a critical piece is missing or disruptions interrupt the flow or clog it altogether.

Here’s an example: The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent agency of the federal government, was going to have no one on staff who knew the grants closeout process, as the Grants Administration Director was taking early retirement and leaving within a matter of months, as was I, a Subject Matter Expert on contract. To ensure that someone would be able to do grant closeouts after both our departures, I produced four detailed training documents, one of which served as the Standard Operating Procedures document… and wrote myself out of any more contracts for grant closeout work at IMLS due to its effectiveness. (Thems the breaks.)

Reviewing what you have in place, and finding out what is missing or misaligned, is one of the most proactive things you can do to prevent an operational crisis and to keep or to get things running tickety-boo. If you’re up for this, email me and we can chat to get the ball rolling.