“If your company feels like it’s running on adrenaline instead of systems, you’re not alone — but you are at risk.”
When Growth Turns to Chaos
Every founder eventually hits the same wall.
Revenue’s rising, the team’s expanding — yet quality slips, mistakes multiply, and suddenly you’re firefighting again.
Michael Gerber saw it coming in The E-Myth Revisited:
“Most businesses fail not because they lack ideas, but because they lack systems.”
Freedom doesn’t come from working harder. It comes from a business that runs on systems, not heroics.
That’s where Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) become your bridge from chaos to control.
The E-Myth Meets Lean Thinking
Gerber taught us to build businesses like franchises — systems so reliable that ordinary people can produce extraordinary results.
Lean Thinking (from Toyota’s Production System) adds the next layer:
“It is impossible to improve any process until it is standardized.”
Before you innovate, you must stabilise.
Before you optimise, you must define.
Without a standard, improvement is just guesswork.
And paradoxically, once everyone knows the playbook, creativity flourishes.
Takeaway: Standardisation doesn’t restrict innovation — it enables it.
SOPs: The Hidden Engine of Scaling Up
In Scaling Up sessions, I see this pattern constantly.
Teams craft strong strategies, set meeting rhythms … and then stumble in execution.
Why? Because every department runs its own version of “how things are done.”
SOPs fix that. They:
- Define ownership and purpose
- Ensure repeatable quality
- Enable delegation so leaders can lead, not micromanage
- Build accountability — what’s documented can be improved
Takeaway: Consistency is the foundation of scale.
From Bureaucracy to Empowerment
Too many see SOPs as red tape. In truth, they’re freedom frameworks.
They capture tribal knowledge and make it teachable.
They protect your brand while empowering your people.
Gerber’s hierarchy says it all:
“Systems run the business. People run the systems. The entrepreneur runs the people.”
Takeaway: A business built on systems creates freedom — for you and your team.
The Scaling Up Connection
SOPs live in the Execution quadrant of the Scaling Up framework — where strategy meets reality.
They turn goals into habits, ensuring alignment across People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash.
Whatever your industry — construction, wealth management, creative retail — SOPs are the operating backbone of excellence.
The Path Forward — Standardise Then Scale
If growth feels messy, don’t speed up — document.
Start with one recurring process.
Write it, test it, refine it.
Watch clarity and performance climb.
Because once your business runs on process instead of memory, scaling stops being chaotic and starts being predictable.
“Standardisation is not the end; it’s the beginning of continuous improvement.” — Lean Philosophy
Ready to Systemise and Scale?
Join our next Scaling Up / Rockefeller Habits Workshop
🕐 Half-day interactive session
🎯 Facilitator: Ted Bonel, Entrepreneur & Scaling Up Certified Coach
You’ll learn to:
- Systemise for growth
- Build accountability and improvement culture
- Align People, Strategy, Execution & Cash for scale
First five early-bird registrations receive Scaling Up 2.0 by Verne Harnish.
[Learn more and register here]
SOPs aren’t paperwork — they’re performance architecture.
TED BONEL, SCALING UP PRACTITIONER – STRATEGY & EXECUTION BUSINESS ADVISORS
Are you looking to scale your business and execute strategy with clarity and impact? I help CEOs and founders turn big ideas into real-world results, guiding small to mid-market companies through tailored strategic insights that drive growth.
My expertise lies in simplifying complexity – bridging high-level strategic frameworks with the practical realities of running a business. Unlike many consultants who focus solely on theory or execution, I specialise in both—translating strategy into actionable, transformative steps that deliver lasting results.
Ready to build a business that grows without burning you out?
Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.
ABOUT STRATEGY & EXECUTION
For over 20 years, Strategy & Execution has supported leaders and organisations in developing and executing winning strategies. We provide expert facilitation, executive education, and hands-on consulting to help businesses refine their strategic direction and implement it effectively.
Using proven methodologies like Scaling Up, E-Myth Mastery, Outthinker, and more, we challenge conventional thinking and equip organisations with the tools to accelerate growth. Our approach is dynamic—combining deep business experience with practical execution. We don’t just advise; we roll up our sleeves and work alongside you to make strategy happen.
If you’re preparing for a strategy development or execution challenge and are committed to creating real value, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more about our work or upcoming workshops
