The Chaos Audit, Part 2: Making It Stick

Courtesy of Midjourney

Last month, we talked about where chaos hides and how to run a quick audit to find the processes that are dragging your team down.

But awareness isn’t enough. If you don’t act on what you found, you’re just documenting dysfunction.

Here’s how to take the next step and actually fix the chaos.

Step 1: Fix the Red Flags First

Start with the issues that cause the most confusion or delay. Don’t try to tackle everything at once.

Pull together a small working group with your subject matter experts (SMEs) to review key workflows. Start with the one thing that, if fixed, would make the biggest difference.

Maybe it’s removing an unnecessary approval step. Maybe it’s rewriting how a task is assigned. The goal is progress, not perfection.

You don’t need a full transformation. Test one fix. If it works, keep going. A biweekly working group can help maintain focus and momentum without overwhelming the team.

If the same issue shows up in three different places, it’s a pattern, not an accident.

Step 2: Assign Ownership, Not Just Responsibility

People can’t own what’s unclear.

Once you’ve mapped your processes, ask: Who owns this now?

Ownership doesn’t always mean one person forever. But there should be a clear point person, and a plan to transition that ownership if roles change.

Skip the sixty-page procedures no one reads. Instead, create one-page guides or process cheat sheets. Make them easy to update and easy to find.

Have the owner write or co-write the SOPs so they’re based in reality, not theory. This also builds accountability and buy-in.

Step 3: Rebuild with Simplicity in Mind

Every fix should reduce friction, not add it.

Ask:

• What part of this process adds no value?

• What would make this easier to follow or teach?

Clean up the process, then get input from the other teams it affects. Don’t wait until rollout to loop them in. That’s how turf wars start and adoption fails.

Collaboration upfront saves frustration later.

Step 4: Create an Adoption Plan

Don’t assume people will use a new process just because it exists.

Help them see what’s in it for them. Will it save time? Cut emails? Reduce confusion?

Communicate the benefits clearly and back them up with quick wins. You can even create some healthy competition. For example, the first person to hit the goal gets lunch on the company.

It sounds simple, but celebrating early adoption builds momentum and gets the team on board faster.

Wrap-Up: Don’t Let Chaos Become Culture

You’re not aiming for perfection. You’re aiming for progress and breathing room.

Take an hour this week to think through what needs to shift.

Ask yourself:
What do I want my team’s day to feel like 90 days from now?

Start with one small fix that will make a big difference and build from there. That’s how you stop the chaos from creeping back in.

No more 5:00 fire drills. No more clunky processes. Just a team that’s clear, aligned, and working with purpose.

Here’s to your success.