Say it like this
- We need to follow SOP here.
- Let me check the SOP for this process.
- We should document an SOP before scaling the team.
Use it at work
Process
- Follow the SOP for adding new users.
- Is there an SOP for this?
Writing
- Let's write an SOP for the release process.
- Please update the SOP after the change.
Onboarding
- New hires should read the support SOPs.
- The SOP is in the wiki.
Don't say this
SOP is a noun, not a verb. You cannot 'SOP something.' You must 'follow the SOP' or 'establish an SOP.'
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOP | Standard steps for a process | Any team | Routine work |
| runbook | Steps for ops tasks or incidents | Ops, on-call | Incidents |
| policy | Rule about what's allowed | Leadership, legal | Company rules |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your manager asks you to ensure the deployment follows company rules. What do you say?
2. Before launching this feature, let us make sure we _______ the quality assurance SOP.
3. Which sentence uses 'SOP' incorrectly?
4. Rewrite using 'SOP': 'We need a written set of rules that everyone must follow when we release new code.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"We need to follow SOP here."
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More about SOP
Real examples(4)
- in a team meeting
"Please follow the SOP for production deploys. It has a checklist for rollback."
- in a retrospective
"The outage happened because the steps were not in any SOP, only in one person head."
- in an onboarding session
"The SOP for access requests is in the wiki, and it takes about ten minutes."
- in an audit
"We can show the auditors the SOP and the logs from the last three reviews."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. SOP is a noun referring to established procedures, not a verb. Do not use it as an action verb like 'we should SOP this'. Instead, use 'follow SOP' or 'establish SOP'.
- ✕The SOP says that everyone should do it differently.✓The SOP says that everyone should do it the same way.
The whole point of a Standard Operating Procedure is consistency, not variation.
- ✕Our SOP is very flexible and changes every week.✓Our SOP is consistent and only changes after team agreement.
SOPs are meant to be standardized and stable. If it changes constantly, it is not really a procedure.
Other forms(3)
- SOP noun
"We documented the SOP for database backups."
- follow the SOP noun phrase
"Always follow the SOP when onboarding new developers."
- establish an SOP noun phrase
"Management wants to establish an SOP for code reviews."
Often used with(5)
- follow the SOP · To comply with or adhere to a documented procedure
- establish an SOP · To create and define a new standardized procedure
- document the SOP · To write down and record the procedure officially
- SOP violation · When someone fails to follow the established procedure
- update the SOP · To revise an existing procedure to reflect changes
Similar words(4)
- procedure · More general term; SOP specifically implies standardization and consistency
- process · Broader term; SOP is more formal and documented
- workflow · Often more visual or sequential; SOP is more procedural and mandatory
- guideline · Guidelines are recommendations; SOPs are required procedures
Opposites(2)
- ad hoc approach
- improvisation
Questions(6)
- What does SOP stand for?
- At work, SOP usually stands for Standard Operating Procedure: a written, step-by-step guide for doing a recurring task the same way each time.
- What is the difference between an SOP and a runbook?
- An SOP describes how to do a routine task in any team. A runbook is usually more technical and tells engineers how to operate or fix a system, for example during an incident.
- What makes a good SOP?
- It has a clear purpose, a named owner, short numbered steps, the tools needed, and what to do if something goes wrong. It is easy to find and kept up to date.
- What is the difference between an SOP and a policy?
- A policy says what is allowed or required and why. An SOP says exactly how to carry out a task step by step.
- How do I write an SOP?
- Watch or do the task, write each step in order, test the steps with someone new, add screenshots or commands where useful, and set a date to review it.
- Can SOP mean something else?
- Yes. In some industries SOP can mean start of production, and in university applications it can mean statement of purpose. The context shows which one is meant.
