Fix the Process, Not the People
Lessons from Consultant Scott Post on Operational Excellence
In an era where businesses are constantly forced to do more with less, operational efficiency isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. On a recent episode of The Germinate Podcast, host Joe Sampson sat down with Scott Post, founder of S Post Consulting, to discuss how businesses can go from firefighting mode to flow mode through better processes, cleaner systems, and smarter leadership.
Scott’s message was simple, powerful, and refreshingly actionable: All work is done with process—and all processes can be improved.
From COO to Consultant: Building a Better Way
Scott Post didn’t start out as a consultant. With a background in industrial engineering and years of leadership experience at companies like Pella Windows and Pizza Ranch, he was deep in the trenches of operations. But he always had an itch to step out on his own.
“I was drawn to consulting for years,” Scott said. “Eventually, I made the leap and realized I could bring real value to businesses by focusing entirely on solving problems—without all the distractions of internal operations.”
He now runs S Post Consulting, serving clients across the Siouxland region of Northwest Iowa, Eastern Nebraska, and South Dakota. His sweet spot? Helping small to mid-sized businesses optimize their operations, reduce waste, and build scalable systems.
Why Clean Floors and Broken Carts Matter More Than You Think
One of the most striking parts of the conversation was how Scott diagnoses a company’s health.
“Sometimes I don’t even have to see a spreadsheet,” he said. “Just walking into a plant, I can tell a lot by how clean it is, how organized the workspace is, or whether that squeaky cart with the broken wheel has been left unfixed for months.”
To Scott, these aren’t just aesthetic issues. They reflect a company’s mindset—its commitment to detail, discipline, and excellence.
The Invisible Cost of Firefighting
Most business owners don’t start out with a broken process. They begin with a good plan. But over time, entropy creeps in—standards slip, employees compensate with hustle, and eventually leaders find themselves putting out fires all day.
“I work with a lot of owners who say, ‘I hate that I have to be in every meeting just to make sure the product gets out the door,’” Scott said. “That’s a red flag.”
His role? Step in as a fractional operations leader, identify the bottlenecks, mentor existing team members, and implement systems that free the CEO to focus on sales, strategy, or innovation—working on the business, not in it.
Lean Isn’t Just for Manufacturers
While Scott’s roots are in manufacturing, his methods apply to just about every industry. “I’ve worked with restaurants, ag companies, even a taxidermist,” he laughed. “A process is a process. If it’s repeatable, it can be improved.”
From reducing wait times in food service to streamlining parts flow in precision machining, the tools are universal: lean principles, root cause analysis, and team-based problem-solving.
Culture Follows Process
A major theme of the episode was how systems shape culture.
Great leaders create structure. They don’t just inspire teams—they equip them. Without clear, reliable processes, even superstar employees burn out. With the right systems, good teams become great, and culture becomes self-sustaining.
“Chick-fil-A is the gold standard,” Scott pointed out. “You get the same quality, speed, and friendliness at any location. That’s not a coincidence—it’s the result of systems that were designed with intention and executed with excellence.”
Training with Purpose
Joe and Scott also tackled the topic of training. While many companies treat it as a checkbox, Scott challenged leaders to think deeper.
“Training is only valuable if it’s part of a larger system of development,” he said. “Don’t just bring in a trainer and call it good. Build a learning culture.”
He gave the example of a client whose team kept solving the same problems over and over again—because they weren’t addressing root causes. Now, he’s working with them to level up their problem-solving capabilities so issues get solved for good.
One Final Lesson: Stay Curious
The episode closed on a note that applies to everyone, whether you’re a business owner, team lead, or just trying to make improvements in your daily work.
“Stay curious,” Scott said. “That’s the key. If you’re still learning, you’re still growing. That’s how we reach excellence.”
Final Thoughts
Scott Post’s approach to consulting is equal parts thoughtful, practical, and human. He understands that behind every broken process is a team of people doing their best—and that with the right systems, those people can do their best work every day.
Whether you're leading a factory floor, running a franchise, or managing a tech startup, his advice rings true:
Focus on the process
Build systems that last
Stay curious
And fix the damn squeaky cart
Want to connect with Scott Post?
Visit S Post Consulting or follow him on LinkedIn.
Listen to this episode and others on The Germinate Podcast to hear more conversations that help businesses grow, adapt, and lead with purpose.
