Some of us think about making repeatable processes, others don’t. I’m in the former camp.

You see, it can drive me crazy when I see something that’s repetitive and boring and could be made more efficient. I guess it’s the engineer in me.

Making a process isn’t the same as automating. For instance, I have my beginning-of-day routine which includes checking my calendar, email, app notices, and texts. It’s pretty straightforward, and within 4-5 minutes I feel like I’ve got my head around what the day’s going to look like.

Is this a formal or complicated process? No. But if I miss one of those four things, it seems to put me in a different (more stressed) mindset.

A more complicated process is what I do with each of my new clients. I created my checklist when I realized that I was forgetting key steps. That could lead to embarrassing situations down the road, right? The list is larger than I expected, about 15 things. Each of them is quite simple and easy for me to remember, so I don’t really need more documentation than that. But if I were to hand it off to an assistant, I’d have to describe what’s going on in my mind.

I did work with an assistant a few years ago. She was wonderful, but it was critical for us to walk through all the steps and to write down key elements. That made for a fabulous and efficient relationship.

So when you’re thinking about taking something in your head and making it into a repeatable or delegable process, ask yourself these questions:

  • Is it something which is done over and over?
  • Is it done pretty much the same way each time?
  • Do I feel burdened by having to remember the steps each time?
  • Do I find it boring or annoying?
  • Is it important to be consistent or efficient?

Where do you start? Well, try to explain it to someone else who a lot less familiar with what you’re doing. Capture all the notes you take as well as verbal instructions. The pictures are probably most important.

Then execute the process, step by step, the next time you have to do it. Capture all your thoughts about what assumptions you were making, and where there might be gaps or mistakes.

You’ll get there.