Let’s face it, SOPs don’t sound exciting. Most people think of them as boring rules from big companies. But SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) aren’t about red tape. They’re about clarity.
When done right, SOPs save time, reduce stress, and help everyone on your team know exactly what to do without needing to ask five times.
Let’s break down the five biggest SOP myths and show you how to create SOPs that would be helpful for your team.
Myth #1: SOPs are only for big companies
Not true. Small teams may need SOPs even more than large ones.
If you’re a startup or solo team, you don’t have time to answer the same questions over and over. You can’t afford to lose clients because someone forgot a step.
Even a simple SOP for onboarding clients or posting to social media can save hours.
Think of SOPs like recipes. Even great chefs use them. Not because they can’t cook but because they want consistency.
If you repeat a task, write it down. That’s your SOP.
Myth #2: SOPs kill creativity
Nope. Good SOPs don’t kill creativity; instead, they make room for it.
When you don’t have to think about the basics, you have more brain space for big ideas. That’s how great teams work: they systemize the boring stuff to focus on solving problems or trying something new.
A standard operating procedure helps you automate repeat tasks so your team can stay creative where it counts.
Myth #3: SOPs are hard to write
You don’t need to be a technical writer to create SOPs. If you can explain a process out loud, you can turn it into a simple step-by-step guide.
Here’s how to create an SOP in five steps:
- Pick a process you do often (e.g. publishing a blog post).
- Write down each step, one by one.
- Keep it simple. Short sentences, clear actions.
- Add visuals if needed (screenshots, videos).
- Save it somewhere easy to find (like in a Google Doc or a document in your project management tool).
That’s it.
Myth #4: SOPs go out of date too fast
This only happens if you never update them.
The best SOPs are living documents. They grow with your business. If your tool changes, update the SOP. If the process changes, tweak a step.
With the right tools, editing SOPs is fast and easy. Treat them like Google Docs, not printed PDFs. Keep them updated every quarter or after a major change.
Myth #5: SOPs are just for training new people
Yes, SOPs help new hires. But they’re also for you.
Ever forget how to do something you haven’t touched in months? Or had to cover a teammate’s task without knowing the steps?
SOPs are your safety net. They make sure nothing slips through.
The best teams use SOPs daily, not just during training.
Why Every Process Needs an SOP
If your team does something more than once, it needs an SOP.
SOPs help you:
- Avoid repeat mistakes
- Speed up onboarding
- Keep quality consistent
- Free up mental space
- Work without micromanaging
- Scale faster with less stress
Doesn’t matter if you run a design agency, e-commerce store, software company, or freelance operation; SOPs give your work structure and reliability.
Even one well-written SOP can save you hours.
Example SOPs Every Team Should Have
Need inspiration? Here are standard operating procedure examples teams use all the time:
- Client onboarding checklist
- Social media posting SOP
- Customer support reply flow
- Payroll processing
- Blog publishing process
- Monthly reporting
- File organization standards
Pro Tip: Use Visual SOP Tools
Old SOPs were long, boring PDFs. No one read them. Today, visual SOPs make everything clearer and faster.
Tools like Miro let you build step-by-step guides with flowcharts. You can also add screenshots or videos to your documents to make them easier to understand.
Summary: How to Create SOPs That Work
Creating a good SOP is simple:
- Choose a repeatable process.
- Break it into clear steps.
- Add visuals.
- Use tools that make updates easy.
Want help building SOPs for your team?
Reach out. We’ll map out your workflows and turn them into clear, repeatable processes.