Checklists
"Experts need checklists–literally–written guides that walk them through the key steps in any complex procedure. In the last section of The Checklist Manifesto, Gawande shows how his research team has taken this idea, developed a safe surgery checklist, and applied it around the world, with staggering success." ~ Malcom Gladwell
Checklists hold significant value as they serve as prompts, priming us for action and directing our thoughts in the right direction. Take this morning, for instance. I was unexpectedly reminded of the need to transfer money into my money market account due to its higher interest rate. Realizing that I am about 30 days late in doing so, I can't help but acknowledge the real cost of this oversight. Had I been utilizing checklists, I would have been more diligent in checking on a regular basis, perhaps even weekly. Questions like "Should I transfer money to the money market?" or "What tasks should I prioritize?" would have been addressed promptly, thus preventing any costly delays.
I'm starting to explore this concept of checklists further... in ways I've never considered before. For me, it's about creating more peak experiences and making fewer mistakes.
What if you used a checklist before you sat down for a meal? It might look like this:
Drink a glass of water
✓ Prepare Veggies
Heat Soup
You might even go further and time the tasks
Drink a glass of water (:20)
✓ Prepare Veggies (1:30)
Heat Soup (2:30)
(Helpful to know the exact time to heat to the ideal temperature in a microwave, don't you think?)
Pilots
"Pilots who believe in checklists usually use flow patterns and mental checklists to prepare an airplane for a specific task; they then back up those actions with the appropriate written checklist. If I see a pilot ignore the written checklist, I always ask why. The answer is usually related to aircraft familiarity, inconvenience, or workload. No matter the reason, failing to use the checklist is a mistake. Fortunately, there is a solution. A segmented checklist enhances your ability to manage the cockpit and comply with standard operating procedures. Many a pilot has avoided embarrassment, not to mention a possible accident, because he or she used the written checklist properly." ~ AskThePilot.com
Surgeons
Web Developers
More ideas...
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Notes from The Checklist Manifesto
p. 123: DO-CONFIRM checklist vs. READ-DO checklist
With a DO-COFIRM checklist, you perform the task and pause. The task requires experience and memory.
with a READ-DO checklist, you carry out tasks as they are written, like following a recipe.
How long? 5-9 items which is the limit of working memory. So you have multiple checklists!
Each item on the checklist can't take too long, otherwise, you'll go off the checklist and look for shortcuts. If the checklist becomes a distraction, then it's too long and the items are too complex. It should fit on one page and be clear of distraction (avoid too many colors, pictures, or multiple fonts).
p. 37: Stick to the vitals. In a hospital, a nurse is trained to check our 5 vitals: pain level, pulse, blood pressure, our temperature, and breathing. When any of these are outside of normal operation parameters, there's another checklist of items they turn to.