Listicle #2 — Common Pitfalls, Mistakes and Observations

1. Allowing too many people into mapping sessions, resulting in conflicting narratives and stalled decisions.

2. Diving into procedural detail before the high-level process structure is agreed.

3. Documenting an idealised version of the workflow instead of the real operational path.

4. Ignoring exceptions, delays and rework loops that actually drive cost and customer frustration.

5. Assuming new workflow tools will fix broken processes without redesigning the underlying steps.

6. Overcomplicating maps with unnecessary detail or excessive branching.

7. Neglecting swimlane analysis, which hides accountability gaps.

8. Capturing undocumented tribal knowledge instead of establishing consistent practices.

9. Skipping validation with the people who execute the process daily.

10. Treating documentation as bureaucracy instead of a capacity-building asset.

11. Focusing on automation before stabilising workflows.

12. Forgetting that cultural alignment is as important as technical accuracy.