5 Process Mapping Tips: Getting People On Board, Not Making Them Bored

Editor's note: this transcript was generated by AI and has been lightly edited for clarity and relevance — some sections have been shortened or removed, and minor transcription errors corrected.

Full transcript

00:00:06Host

Most businesses see the value in having their processes mapped and available to employees; however, it can be a struggle to get people involved in the initial creation stage. Having implemented process-led management systems across the globe for over 20 years, we have some tips to help get your entire team involved.

00:00:29Host

One: conduct process discovery workshops. Break out the Sharpies and Post-it notes, throw some brown paper on the wall, and get creative — you'll find the process maps created will be much more useful this way than mapping alone or interviewing just one subject matter expert. It's also a good idea to include lunch.

00:01:22Host

Two: use a simple process map creation tool. To get people involved, uniformity is key — have everyone using the same tool, and the simpler the better.

00:02:10Host

Three: use a simple methodology. Triaster's noun-verb methodology is very useful here, as end users require no training to read a process map.

00:02:55Host

Four: incentivise the creation of process maps. Process mapping is a great skill to have on a CV, and an incentive programme — financial, time off in lieu, or simply food — is an effective way of getting people to map out processes. As Richard Branson said, "Train people well enough so that they can leave; treat them well enough so that they don't want to."

00:04:06Host

Five: share your process maps in a user-friendly and useful tool. It would be a huge shame to map out your business processes and then have them hidden away on a shared drive or in a filing cabinet collecting dust. Quick and easy access to view and edit the maps will retain focus and help nurture a culture of continuous improvement, as people continuously submit improvement ideas and amend their processes accordingly.