How to Run an Operational Audit Without Making It Overwhelming
Simple steps to gain clarity, spot inefficiencies, and make confident improvements, without slowing your business down.
The word audit can make any business owner or team member tense up. It sounds formal, complex, and time-consuming. But a well-run operational audit doesn’t have to be any of those things.
In fact, it can be one of the most valuable, eye-opening exercises you do all year, if you approach it the right way.
At Sonnett and Company, we guide businesses through operational audits that are focused, actionable, and efficient. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s clarity. You want to know what’s working, what’s stuck, and what can be improved to support your growth.
Here’s how to run an operational audit that’s insightful, not overwhelming.
Step 1: Define Your Focus
Not every operational audit has to cover your entire business. In fact, the best ones usually don’t.
Pick one area to start:
Sales-to-delivery handoffs
Client onboarding
Project or production workflows
Internal communication and meetings
Billing and collections
Ask:
Where do we feel the most friction right now?
Where do mistakes, delays, or confusion tend to happen?
You’re not trying to fix everything, you’re trying to understand something.
Step 2: Map What’s Actually Happening
Skip the ideal version of your workflow and focus on what’s really happening today.
Walk through the process step-by-step
Identify who is involved, when, and how
Capture where handoffs happen (and how clear they are)
Note where people improvise, repeat work, or “just figure it out”
This isn’t about blame, it’s about surfacing gaps in clarity, structure, or consistency.
Step 3: Talk to the People Doing the Work
Some of the best insights will come from your team.
Ask:
What part of this process is unclear or frustrating?
Where do things get stuck or slowed down?
What do you find yourself re-explaining or fixing often?
What would make this smoother or faster?
Pro tip: Ask follow-up questions. People may not always articulate the root issue at first, but they know where the pain is.
Step 4: Look for Patterns
Once you have the current-state map and team feedback, look for recurring issues:
Confusing roles or ownership
Unnecessary steps
Manual tasks that could be automated
Inconsistent tools or documentation
Too many “it depends” decisions
These are your friction points, and your starting point for improvements.
Step 5: Prioritize Quick Wins and Foundational Fixes
You don’t need a 40-slide report.
Just answer these three questions:
What’s working well that we should keep?
What’s creating the most friction or risk?
What’s one process we can improve right now with minimal disruption?
Start small. Fix the friction. Build from there.
Bonus: Don’t Keep It a Secret
Once you’ve identified what’s changing, communicate clearly:
What you’re improving
Why it matters
What’s expected of each person involved
When people understand the why, they’re more likely to buy into the how.
Final Thought: Audits Aren’t About Perfection, They’re About Progress
An operational audit isn’t just about finding what’s broken, it’s about building a smarter, smoother business.
When you take the time to look under the hood, even briefly, you’ll uncover opportunities that improve efficiency, boost morale, and prepare your business to grow with confidence.
Ready to Make Your Business Run Smoother?
At Sonnett and Company, we help businesses conduct practical, non-intimidating operational audits that drive real improvement. Let’s talk about where to start.