How does an EOS leadership team document Core Processes without falling into the trap of writing massive, hundred-page manuals that nobody uses?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

The EOS approach to documentation is simple: document the 20 percent that produces 80 percent of the results. Traditional standard operating procedure manuals fail because they attempt to document every keystroke, contingency, and edge case. The result is a massive, hundred-page binder that takes six months to write, becomes obsolete in ninety days, and is never opened by frontline employees.

The Core Process component requires you to identify the six to ten high-level processes that define your business from end to end. These typically include HR, marketing, sales, operations, customer service, and accounting. For each process, you document only the major phases and critical checkpoints using clear, high-level bullet points.

A clean core process reads like an airline pilot checklist, not an engineering textbook. It captures the essential steps required to deliver consistent quality and protect institutional knowledge, while leaving room for competent people who GWC their seats to apply judgment.

Once documented, your job is to package these processes into an accessible format and ensure they are Followed by All. Train your people on the process, measure compliance on your weekly Scorecard, and manage non-compliance through your Level 10 Meetings. When your core processes are documented at the 20 percent level, you create consistency, simplify onboarding, and make your business infinitely easier to delegate, automate with AI, or transfer cleanly to a future buyer.