Every workplace has Dos and Don’ts and while some of them may be negligible, plenty of them are important enough that they need to be followed if things are going to go right. Why not make that easier for everyone with manuals on hand? Spiral bound books, pamphlets, even infographic posters – manuals can be very convenient for any workplace.
Here are 3 good reasons why.
Reference in Emergencies
In emergencies, having quick access to information is incredibly important. You really don’t want employees scrambling and a workplace manual means having a comprehensive repository of emergency procedures on hand so that people know exactly what to do in different emergencies.
For this to work, you want the manual to detail emergency – fires, natural disasters, or medical – procedures clearly, breaking things down into step-by-step instructions, contact information for emergency services, and even a visual infographic of evacuation plans.
In fact, why not integrate interactive elements, such as QR codes linked to online resources or an augmented reality feature for a virtual tour of emergency exits as well as a “Heroes Corner” highlighting instances where employees successfully navigated emergencies so that everyone knows just how effective following can be.
Consistent Operations
In a workplace, consistency is how you keep up a standard of quality and efficiency, and having workplace manuals means everyone’s on the same page, following standardized processes across different tasks.
So, you want to detail standard operating procedures (SOPs) for common tasks and responsibilities in the manual – guidelines on workflow, quality standards, and really any specific protocols that are unique to you.
For example, a manual that really gets into the step-by-step procedure for processing customer orders -specifying the order entry system, quality checks, and communication protocols for customer updates- with flowcharts could mean the difference between happy, money-spending customers and irate bad review leaving customers.
Training and Onboarding
Onboarding new hires effectively is nearly as important as hiring the right people if you’re going to half the learning curve, ramp up productivity, and get everyone feeling part of the team as soon as possible. And workplace manuals mean a structured guide for training.
So, you want to have a special manual for onboarding, or at least a dedicated section in the main manual for onboarding, covering things like company policies, organizational structure, and job-specific responsibilities.
For example, it’s a good idea to design an onboarding manual with really cool visuals, stories from current employees, fun facts about the company’s history, maybe even a “Meet the Team” section with quirky bios. Then, perhaps include a colorful map of the office layout, showcasing key areas like a coffee hub, collaborative spaces, and an infamous office plant everyone talks about.
When everyone is on the same page in a business, it ultimately means more profit and you want that if your company is going to succeed. Manuals are often an underrated tool so consider these tips.
