--- title: "Respect the Process | SPMS Insights" description: "Paul Smith explains why processes exist for a reason, how they preserve lessons learned, and why respecting the process supports safer, more predictable execution." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "ProfessionalService", "name": "Smith Project Management Services, LLC", "description": "Independent advisory led by Paul Smith, advising leadership on complex project recovery, risk identification, organizational effectiveness, and contract and project execution oversight.", "url": "https://www.smithprojectmanagement.com", "telephone": "+1-941-812-7035", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressRegion": "FL", "addressCountry": "US" }, "areaServed": "United States", "priceRange": "$$$$", "founder": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Smith", "jobTitle": "Founder & Principal Consultant" }, "knowsAbout": [ "Project Recovery", "Independent Project Oversight", "Risk Identification", "Organizational Effectiveness", "Contract and Scope Oversight", "Nuclear Decommissioning Oversight", "Construction Project Leadership" ], "hasCredential": [ { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "credentialCategory": "Professional Certification", "name": "Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)" }, { "@type": "EducationalOccupationalCredential", "credentialCategory": "Professional Certification", "name": "Safety Trained Supervisor-Construction (STS-C)" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Respect the Process", "description": "Paul Smith explains why processes exist for a reason, how they preserve lessons learned, and why respecting the process supports safer, more predictable execution.", "articleSection": "Insights & Perspectives", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Smith" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Smith Project Management Services, LLC" }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.smithprojectmanagement.com/insights/respect-the-process", "url": "https://www.smithprojectmanagement.com/insights/respect-the-process" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.smithprojectmanagement.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Insights", "item": "https://www.smithprojectmanagement.com/insights" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Respect the Process", "item": "https://www.smithprojectmanagement.com/insights/respect-the-process" } ] } ] --- [![Smith Project Management Services, LLC](/assets/spms-logo-Cm2mE7fh.png)](/) [About](/#about)[Services](/#services)[Experience](/#experience)[Credentials](/#credentials)[Insights](/insights)[Contact](/#contact)[Get In Touch](/#contact) [Home](/)[Insights](/insights)Article No. 009 ![Smith Project Management Services, LLC](/assets/spms-logo-Cm2mE7fh.png) Smith Project Management Services, LLC Insights & Perspectives Series • Article No. 009 Respect the Process [Back to Insights](/insights) # Respect the Process Every organization has processes. Some are formal, some are informal. Some are documented in procedures, policies, and work instructions while others simply become part of how work gets accomplished. Regardless of their form, processes exist for a reason. The challenge is that people don't always understand that reason. As a result, processes are often viewed as obstacles rather than safeguards. Something to work around instead of something to understand. And that's where problems begin. ## The Purpose Behind the Process Something I’ve noted throughout my career is that most processes were created because someone learned a lesson. Sometimes that lesson was expensive. It may have involved a quality issue, schedule impacts, and/ or a safety event - But rarely was the process created without a reason. Over time, however, the original reason often becomes less visible. People may remember the requirement, but they often forget the lesson that created it. The process remains, the understanding disappears. When that happens, individuals begin asking: Why do we have to do this? And if nobody can explain the answer, the process begins losing credibility. ## What Experienced People Understand Experienced professionals tend to view processes differently. They recognize that many requirements are connected to risks that may no longer be obvious. A verification step may exist because an error once occurred. A review process may exist because assumptions were missed. A qualification requirement may exist because someone discovered that knowledge gaps create vulnerability. The process itself is often the visible result of lessons learned through experience. Respecting the process does not mean blindly following rules. It means understanding that the process likely exists because someone already discovered what happens when it isn't followed. ## When Organizations Stop Respecting the Process Process failures rarely begin with intentional misconduct; they usually begin with convenience. - • A step is skipped because it seems unnecessary. - • A review is shortened because everyone is busy. - • Documentation is deferred because the work appears straightforward. - • A workaround is introduced because it saves time. Individually, these decisions often appear reasonable, but collectively, they create risk. Over time, organizations begin normalizing deviations from the process. (I discuss “Normalization of Deviance” in another article in this series – be sure to check it out). The shortcut becomes routine. Then the exception becomes accepted, and finally the workaround becomes standard practice. Eventually people stop recognizing that they're no longer following the process at all – And this is often how larger problems begin. ## Process and Performance One misconception is that processes exist only to satisfy compliance requirements, when in reality, effective processes support performance. They create consistency, improve communication, and reduce uncertainty. And by doing so, they help organizations avoid repeating mistakes. Most importantly, they allow people to benefit from lessons they may not have personally experienced. A well-designed process transfers knowledge across generations of workers, managers, and leaders. It preserves organizational learning, and in that sense, processes are closely connected to institutional knowledge. They’re one of the ways organizations remember. ## Final Thoughts Respecting the process does not mean accepting bureaucracy for the sake of bureaucracy. It means understanding that most processes were created for a reason. Someone identified a risk, experienced a consequence, and learned a lesson. The process is often the result. The strongest organizations don't simply follow processes because they're required to, they understand why those processes exist. And when people understand the purpose behind the process, compliance becomes easier, ownership becomes stronger, and performance becomes more predictable. Because in many cases, respecting the process is really about respecting the lessons that created it. [Back to Insights](/insights) [Previous Article Accountability: The Difference Between Responsibility and Ownership ](/insights/accountability-the-difference-between-responsibility-and-ownership)[Next Article Normalization of Deviance ](/insights/normalization-of-deviance) ## Related Consulting Capabilities Explore consulting capabilities related to the project and organizational issues discussed in this article. [Safety Program Development ](/#services)[Leadership Assessment ](/#services)[Contract & Scope Development ](/#services)[Project Recovery ](/#services)[Schedule Analysis & Review ](/#services)[Project Oversight ](/#services) For more insights from Paul Smith, connect with him on LinkedIn. [Connect on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-smith-chst-sts-c-1514b414) ## Need an Experienced Perspective on a Complex Project? Smith Project Management Services advises leadership on project risk, organizational effectiveness, contract oversight, and recovery before issues become failures. [Start a Conversation](/#contact) Smith Project Management Services, LLC Project Oversight, Recovery, and Organizational Effectiveness Paul Smith | Principal Consultant CHST · STS-C · OSHA Authorized Construction Trainer © 2026 All rights reserved. Powered by [Periscope Promotions](https://www.periscopepromotions.net)