Process! How Discipline And Consistency Will Set You and Your Business Free (2002) was written by Mike Paton and Lisa Gonzales and is part of the larger Traction library. In this review we will take a look at the book as a whole, and what you can take away from it.
The book is split into three main sections, and first we will overview the first section, Commit. In this section, the authors motivate the reader to embrace the process to implement processes. In the first chapter, they talk about the three common misconceptions about processes that entrepreneurs often have: not being in their nature, taking too much time, and destroying freedom. The authors go on to disprove those common beliefs about processes, and prove that, if anything, quite the opposite is true. In the second chapter, they go on to summarize the six key components of EOS (Vision, People, Data, Issues, People and Traction), and then establish what a Strong Process Component is. Specifically, it requires the reader to establish a set of core processes that are “documented, simplified, and followed by all.” The rest of the chapter goes into the benefits of having a strong Process component (such as attracting and keeping talent, having happier customers, and getting better at resolving issues).
In the next section, Learn, the authors go over the importance of the leadership team embracing the processes of the business. Following this, they go on to explain the 3-step Process Documenter. In short, step one is identifying your handful of core processes, step two is documenting and simplifying each core process, and step three is to package the processes so that they’re easy to find and use. In the next chapter, they explain the “FBA Checklist” which is to get your processes to be followed by all. Essentially, this checklist includes the steps of: Train, Measure, Manage, and Update.
In the final section, Act, the authors provide steps to help the reader get started. In the first chapter of the section, they encourage the reader to commit to take action on your company’s process component, complete the 3-step process documenter, and complete the FBA checklist. They then talk about common challenges (such as having a lack of passion, lack of expertise, overreliance on technology, and more) and how to overcome them. In the final chapter of the section and book, the authors provide templates and resources to help the reader take action on your process component.
Like most books that are part of the Traction library, Process! How Discipline And Consistency Will Set You and Your Business Free, gives the reader a great way to simplify the Process component in your business. It allows the reader to learn practical ways on how to implement this in their business and takes away any misconceptions or common misbeliefs that entrepreneurs may have.
