Workflow Automation
You do the same sequence every time. Client signs → you send the contract, create the folder, send the intake email, add them to the CRM. That's four manual steps. Workflow automation is using software to automate sequences of tasks: e.g. "when client signs contract, send onboarding email and create folder." It reduces manual work so you're not the one clicking through every time.
Same outcome, fewer clicks. A consultant who manually sends 5 emails per new client can set up one workflow: when the contract is signed (trigger), the system sends the onboarding email, creates the folder, and notifies the team. She's freed 20 minutes per client. A coach who manually books and sends reminders can use a booking tool + email automation so the intake runs without her. Workflow automation is the next step after documentation—you've defined the steps; now the system runs them.
When X happens, do Y and Z. You define it once; the system runs it every time.
How to start
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Find the repeatable sequence. What do you do the same way every time? New client onboarding, proposal sent → follow-up in 3 days, invoice sent → reminder in 14 days. These are workflow candidates. Map the steps first (documentation); then see which can be triggered automatically.
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Pick one workflow. Don't automate everything at once. Start with the one that eats the most time or causes the most drops (e.g. follow-up reminders). Tools like Zapier, Make, or native CRM/email automation can often do "when X, then Y."
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Test and refine. Run the workflow a few times. Where does it break? Where do you still need a human? Automation handles the repeatable; you handle the exception.
What breaks
Automating chaos. If the process isn't defined, automating it just automates confusion. Document the steps first; then automate.
Over-automating. Some steps need a human touch (e.g. first personal email). Automate the repeatable; keep the high-touch moments for you.