Sun, February 28, 2010 - 12:16:41

The Power of Checklists

Since its release in December, surgeon and New Yorker staff writer Atul Gawande’s book, The Checklist Manifesto, has been generating quite a buzz within the medical community.  In his book, he proposes that physicians, nurses, and hospital staffers could greatly benefit from using one simple tool: a checklist. 

Gawande’s manifesto, based upon research he conducted on procedures commonly used in the aviation, investment, and construction industries, is geared largely toward the medical community. But as, Justin Fox, editorial director of the Harvard Business Review Group writes, the surprisingly transformative power of checklists is applicable to nearly any profession.  And, as long-time devotees, we couldn’t agree more.  In fact, it’s something we discuss in our own book, THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference.

Whether you’re a surgeon, a CEO, or a mom-in-chief, turning your hectic schedule into a manageable routine is as easy as writing out a to-do list, but in order to really make this tool work for you, it’s essential to think small.  When faced with a busy day or an overwhelming deadline, it’s tempting to compose a short checklist full of large tasks, but doing so is self-defeating.  Instead, allow yourself a few more minutes to collect your thoughts and use a technique we call “mini-tasking.” 

Start by closing your eyes and visualizing your end goal, such as giving an important presentation.  Then, rewind your thoughts and imagine every step you need to take in order to make your main objective happen and write them down one by one in chronological order.  Although some of the mini-tasks you come up with may seem trivial or mundane, don’t leave them out.  After all, in the heat of the moment, it’s easy to forget the so-called “small stuff” and as we like to say, “little mistakes can spell disaster.”

When you have completed your checklist, don’t forget to read it over several times to check for any errors or omissions.  Then, once you are ready, grab your checklist and start crossing off those mini-tasks.  Working little by little, you will be able to concentrate and think clearly without becoming overwhelmed by the weight of your end goal and by completing each actionable item one at a time, you can use the confidence you gain from your small wins to fuel you on until the end.

Posted by Linda and Robin