There are few things more obnoxious than business buzzwords, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) might be the worst of them all, as most SOPs are ineffective due to clunky manuals laced with technical jargon. However, if done correctly, using clear, detailed instructions based on past experience, SOPs can protect you from catastrophe literally. After the Great Train Wreck of 1856, public outcry prompted railroad companies to implement standardized safety measures, thus Standard Operating Procedures were born. Today, companies realize that informal communication won't cut it in an interconnected world and start writing manuals filled with step-by-step guides for each important procedure. Good SOPs have the same framework, no matter what industry you work in, including detailed instructions, checklists with measurable results, organizational charts, and accountability. There are various tools available to help build modern SOP documents, such as SweetProcess, Process Street, Pipefy, Hackpad, Evernote, WorkFlowy, Trello, and others, each offering unique features and pricing plans. Ultimately, the key to effective SOPs is consistency, making it essential for growing businesses to document their most complete SOPs possible, so their processes can scale with their team.