When you open a package from the delivery on your porch, there is a booklet in a plastic wrapper. These are the instructions on proper method to open the enclosed purchase(s) and approved use (with warnings) in several languages with diagrams.
Companies should have similar instructions on how to handle machinery, what to touch and what not to touch, who has security to go to certain areas and what they can see and other details of how the company runs.
These are the Standard Operating Procedures rules for your employment to be followed.
The five essential SOPs to consider are procedural instructions, safety protocols, quality control measures, equipment handling guidelines, and emergency response procedures. Procedural instructions outline the specific tasks and sequences required to complete a job.
The four P’s of an SOP are purpose, process, personnel, and performance. These sections outline the reason for the SOP, the steps to carry out the procedure, the roles and responsibilities of personnel, and metrics to measure success.
Depending on the size of the company (organization) and the patience of the Human Resources, the details of procedures can get very intense and complicated. Every day something will change and need to be updated in the SOP. Today, the bulletin board postings next to the lunchroom can be accessed from any computer. This helps with virtual working at home, until receiving a termination email.
Some jobs have detail step-by-step instructions that must be followed in order or cause a potential disaster. Flying a plane. Operating a submarine. Setting off a nuclear missile. Do it right the first time, for there are no second chances.
Surprisingly, most of these SOPs do NOT have instructions for the possibility for things going wrong. What is the plan B? If someone is injured, who takes command of the situation? What if the elevator is jammed? If a gunman comes in, where do you hide? If the copier is jammed, who is in charge of getting it functional? What do you do when the pencil sharpener is full? There were fire drills in school, but not in the office.
The task we do everyday have routines but no Standard Operating Procedure. Hop in the car, start it up and check your phone. Do you check the wheels? Do you check the engine? When do you buckle up?
Perhaps a Standard Operating Procedure should be formatted before a relationship starts? Go into a place where you can network with strangers and use your ‘best lines’ to get attention. Carry enough money or credit for a possible dinner or drinks. Wear comfortable shoes for a possible long walk. Have a clean apartment or house (including the bathroom) in case the meeting becomes romantic? Did you change your underwear? Plan an exit for the chance of things going bad.
Some long term relationships can become routine with the experience of standard operating procedures followed everyday…. Until you shake things up.
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Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Relationships:
The Golden Rule—treating others as you would like to be treated—is of paramount importance. In the context of marriage or committed cohabitation, the traditional vows, "for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part," should be attached as a reminder of our commitment.
Just like many product SOPs have a troubleshooting addendum, relationships often require guidance for unexpected issues. Despite good intentions, troubleshooting guides rarely cover all possible problems, and this is even more true for relationships, where the unexpected is typically unplanned.
Debbie and I have discussed various "what-ifs," including scenarios where one of us might need more care than the other can provide. We agreed that if the situation became severe enough, we would consider being cared for in a facility (i.e., a nursing home).
Now, we find ourselves in an unexpected and unplanned situation. Over the past year, I have been dealing with increasing right shoulder pain, leading to a scheduled shoulder replacement surgery on February 11th. However, five days before my surgery, Debbie woke up with excruciating leg pain that worsened daily. She was scheduled for physical therapy starting the week after my surgery.
Debbie’s pain has been diagnosed as a herniated disc, which has left her legs weak and numb, particularly her right leg, rendering her unable to drive or help much. As a nurse by profession, this is particularly frustrating for her. Friends, neighbors, and our church family have stepped in to transport us, provide meals, and support us in various ways. I am also unable to drive while wearing a sling on my right arm.
To add to our challenges, today my right knee gave out, and I am now wearing a brace. If this condition worsens, I may need to discuss the possibility of seeking care in a facility. For now, we are relying on our faith in God, our hope for the future, our love for one another, and the compassionate kindness of our family and friends.
The only troubleshooting advice in my life’s SOP is to pray and then live.
Peace be with you, my friend.
Burd
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