Streamlining Business Processes with the SKS Method - Stop, Keep, Start

Efficient Streamlining with the SKS Method

In 2011, an article published in Harvard Business School suggested three types of questions to ask in a business relationship, such as a manager/employee evaluation.

The three questions are:

1. What should I STOP doing?

2. what should I KEEP doing?

3. What should I START doing?

These work for person-to-person interactions - and they also can be adapted as we consider our processes, checklists, and systems. We've processed these questions verbally in team meetings and we've taken our SOPs and 3 colors of highlighters and gone to work on it that way as well.

Here's a way to think about the questions when discussing your systems with or without your team.

1. What should I STOP DOING? What tasks are you currently performing that, if eliminated, would go unnoticed and have no negative impact on your business? What resources could this free up?

2. What should I KEEP DOING: What existing strengths and practices should you maintain and possibly double down on? Recognizing and preserving these aspects of your business can contribute to its continued success. What activities, if increased or expanded upon, could yield significant positive results? Think of this as unlocking the potential in your business, much like the hockey curve of income.

3. What should I START DOING: What activities should you initiate or begin doing that could bring significant improvements? How could this opportunity to explore new avenues that lead to growth?

The 4th quarter is a perfect time to evaluate your systems. Whether on your own or with your team, take time in the next few months to trim the unnecessary parts of your business procedures so that you can focus your energy where it matters most.