I used to think documentation was the answer.
“If we just tighten the SOPs, everything will click.”
It didn’t.
In this solo episode, I unpack a hard truth most agency owners don’t want to hear:
Processes solve clarity problems.
They don’t solve people's problems.
If your agency is stuck cleaning up the same mistakes
If your team “knows the SOP” but keeps ignoring it
If quality feels subjective instead of non-negotiable
This episode will feel uncomfortably familiar.
I break down the three gaps SOPs can’t fix:
The skill gap (they literally can’t do the work yet)
The will gap (they can, they just don’t)
The culture fit gap (their standards ≠ yours)
And the moment most founders miss:
When you add structure, ambiguity disappears.
And that’s where weak performers usually hide.
A few specific things I cover:
The betting test I use to spot bad hires fast
Why accountability systems fail (even “good” ones)
The exact decision every founder must make next: train, replace, or restructure
Catch the full episode on The Agency Uplift Podcast
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- Sean
P.S. Near the end, I explain why no consequences = no standards and why avoiding that conversation is what takes most agencies down in years 2–3.