A good process is like a favourite tool.

You know the kind of thing I mean – that ladle you reach for first because it feels right, holds plenty, pours without dripping and washes up easily.  Or that favourite saw, that is somehow just easier to work with, even though it’s old and a bit battered.

Often, what makes a good tool work brilliantly is exactly what makes it beautiful.  It’s obvious what it’s for, and how it should be used.  It’s comfortable to work with, easy to maintain.

Good tool designs are timeless, yet it’s often clear that an individual has crafted them and/or worked with them.   They allow for a little personal finessing.

A good tool, like a good process, is one you’re happy to use every day.

It’s one you’re willing to keep in good order, so you can have it to hand always.  It’s a tool you’re proud to share, and proud to pass on when your work is done.

Good processes, like good tools, don’t make work, they enhance it.