The Hidden Power of Procedures: Why Cutting Corners is Cutting Yourself Short

There’s a scene I keep returning to when talking about procedures in tech. Imagine a Formula 1 pit crew - precision, synchronization, every movement choreographed down to the last second. Now imagine one of them decides to “cut a corner” to save time: they skip tightening a bolt, assuming it won’t matter. What happens next? Disaster.

Yet in many tech companies today, that’s exactly what's happening. The belief that procedures are time-consuming relics of bureaucracy is rampant, especially in fast-growing startups. These companies are racing ahead, cutting corners, believing that anything that slows them down is a threat to their success. They’re wrong. And I’ve seen firsthand just how costly this mindset can be.

The Start-Up Syndrome

I remember working with a tech startup - brilliant minds, innovative products, and limitless potential. Their speed and drive were inspiring. But there was an undercurrent of chaos, an urgency that left little room for things like procedures. “We’re too agile for that,” they’d say, proudly rejecting anything they deemed to be “red tape.”

At first, they thrived - launching features at breakneck speed, staying ahead of competitors, attracting early-stage investors. But soon, cracks began to show. Small errors piled up. One bug here, another glitch there. Releases slowed down, firefighting increased. It wasn’t long before the team found themselves stuck in a reactive mode, constantly addressing problems that could’ve been avoided with the right processes in place. The momentum stalled. Investors grew nervous. Their cutting-edge product was no longer ahead of the curve - it was bogged down by technical debt and missed opportunities.

Why Does This Happen?

The root of this issue is the misconception that procedures are barriers to progress. Especially in tech, where speed is often worshiped above all else, there's this perception that taking the time to document and follow steps is antithetical to innovation. People often think, “We can’t afford to slow down; we’re in a race to the finish”.

But procedures, like the ones that pit crews follow, aren’t barriers - they’re the guardrails that allow you to move faster, with confidence. When procedures are overlooked, it’s not just a loss of time. It’s a loss of consistency, quality, and eventually trust - from your team, your customers, and your investors.

Here’s another example: a global SaaS company I worked with, already years into its scaling journey, started encountering outages that affected many clients. The outages were traced back to a lack of procedure in the deployment of updates. Simple checks and balances were skipped because, again, they believed procedures slowed them down. Yet each outage cost them time, money, and, worse, credibility. Every corner they cut resulted in damage far greater than the seconds they thought they were saving.

The Real Role of Procedures

I always remind the companies I work with that procedures are not just about documenting how things should be done - they're about creating an environment where speed and innovation can happen safely and sustainably. The goal is not to force rigidity into a flexible system, but to ensure that teams have a safety net when moving fast.

Procedures streamline operations, improve quality control, and foster consistency. When used well, they become an invisible support system, empowering teams to innovate more confidently because they know the critical elements are always covered. They allow companies to scale quickly without the weight of technical debt crushing them later.

The real secret? Procedures prevent the chaos that kills creativity. When your team knows they can rely on established methods to handle routine tasks, they have more mental space to focus on the truly innovative, groundbreaking work. There’s a reason why the world’s best engineers, developers, and innovators embrace procedures. They know that by “following the rules,” they can break new ground without worrying about everything collapsing behind them.

What Can Be Done?

So, what’s the fix? How can you make sure your company avoids the pitfalls of cutting corners?

1. Start Early: The earlier procedures are embedded into your company culture, the easier they are to maintain as you scale. Start with the basics - document the essential tasks that must be done right, every time.
2. Embrace Agility, Not Chaos: Agile methodologies don’t mean abandoning procedures. In fact, they rely on them. Establish procedural “anchors” within your sprints to ensure quality and consistency without compromising speed.
3. Involve the Team: Make procedures a collaborative effort. When teams are involved in creating and updating procedures, they’ll be more likely to follow them. It also ensures that your procedures are realistic, not just theoretical.
4. Continuous Improvement: Procedures should evolve with your company. Regularly review and refine them to ensure they’re still serving your goals and not becoming outdated obstacles.
5. Lead by Example: Leadership needs to demonstrate that procedures are essential to long-term success. This isn’t just about “compliance” - it’s about building a culture where quality, efficiency, and consistency are valued.

Winning the Long Game

Tech is a race, no doubt about it. But like any race, it’s not just about the speed - it’s about the strategy, the precision, and the long game. Procedures are the pit crew that keeps you in the race for the long haul.

When companies fail to see this, they burn out, make costly mistakes, and lose the trust of those they serve. But for those that embrace procedures, the rewards are significant: they become not just fast, but resilient, reliable, and, ultimately, successful.

I’ve worked with companies across the globe - from nimble startups to industry giants - and I’ve seen the difference procedures can make. They aren’t the enemy of innovation; they’re its greatest ally. If your company is ready to take that step, to embed procedures that protect your momentum rather than slow it down, let's talk. I’m here to help you cut the right corners and build a sustainable path to success.

In my experience, procedures aren’t about slowing down; they’re about giving you the freedom to speed up without crashing. So, the next time you're considering cutting corners, ask yourself: Are you actually gaining time? Or are you setting yourself up for a pit stop that could cost you the race?