How to find, update, and reuse SOPs

about 10 minutes

An SOP (standard operating procedure) gives the steps for one task. Each SOP belongs to a post on your org board. Use this guide to find an SOP fast, keep it up to date, and reuse it to train new staff.

Before you start

This example uses the post “Front desk” (position “Receptionist”). The post has two SOPs: “Answer the phone” and “Greet a visitor”. To make a post and an SOP, see post details and people and write SOPs and documents.

Step 1 — Search for the SOP

Click the search box at the top of the left menu. Type a word from the SOP name, for example “phone”. The results show the SOP under SOPS.

Step 2 — Open the SOP

Click the SOP in the results. The SOP page opens with its steps in the editor.

Answer the phone SOP page with its two steps in the editor

Step 3 — See which post it belongs to

Look at the page path above the SOP name. The name before the SOP name is the post, here Front desk. Click it to open the post page, then click Answer the phone to return to the SOP.

Page path from Boards to Front desk and Answer the phone, with Front desk outlined

Step 4 — Edit the SOP

Click at the end of the text and add a new step. Select all the steps. Click the Numbered list button in the toolbar to number them.

SOP editor with three numbered steps and the Numbered list button outlined

Step 5 — Check that it is saved

Wait until the button at the top right shows Saved. The numbered steps stayed after a page reload.

Saved status button at the top of the SOP page

Step 6 — See all SOPs of a post

Type the post name, “Front desk”, in the left menu search. Click the result under POSTS. The post page lists all its SOPs under SOPS. Click an SOP name to open it.

Front desk post page with its SOPs list outlined

Step 7 — Change the SOP order

Click Boards. Open the arrow menu on the post and click Edit. Open the SOPs tab. Click the up arrow (Move up) beside an SOP. SOP changes save at once.

SOPs tab of the post editor with the Move up arrow outlined

Step 8 — Check the new order

Click Close. Open the post page again from the left menu search. The SOPs now show in the new order: “Greet a visitor” is first.

Post page SOPs list with Greet a visitor now first

Step 9 — Create a course for the SOP

To reuse the SOP for training, click Training. Click New course. Type “Front desk basics” in Title and click Create. The course opens automatically.

New course form with Front desk basics in the Title field

Step 10 — Add the SOP to the course

Type “Phone work” in Section title and click Add section. In the section, click Add SOP, policy, or checklist. Type “phone”. Check that Answer the phone shows SOP · Front desk, then click it.

Course item picker with Answer the phone shown as an SOP

Step 11 — Read the SOP in the course

Click 1.1 Answer the phone in the course. The SOP steps show on the right. Click Edit SOP to go to the SOP editor if a step must change.

Answer the phone SOP shown in the course with the Edit SOP button outlined

Tips

The left menu search finds SOPs, posts, policies, checklists, and courses.
The course shows the current SOP. After you edit the SOP, the course showed the new numbered steps.
In the course picker, an SOP shows its post name, for example “SOP · Front desk”.
To go from an SOP to its post page, click Front desk in the SOP page path. If you open an SOP from Post Edit with unsaved post changes, a warning lets you stay or discard the changes.

What next

Write a new post SOP: write SOPs and documents.
Follow up on the course: check training progress.
Keep company rules in one place: manage policies.
Add more posts: build your org board.