Simplifying Complexity: Business Lessons from The Checklist Manifesto

“The Checklist Manifesto” by Dr. Atul Gawande has become my go-to for reinforcing the power of process and checklists in our work life.

You might be asking, what’s so special about checklists? Well, imagine trying to build a Lego set without instructions (gasp!) or bake a cake without a recipe. Sounds unnecessarily burdensome, right? Imagine trying to grow your business without them too.

Unfortunately, for most companies, this doesn’t require a stretch of the imagination. The good news is that’s where checklists come in—they simplify complex tasks and help us get the job done right.

Dr. Gawande uses examples from industries like construction, aviation, and healthcare to illustrate how checklists minimize risk. These industries handle intense situations every day, and they rely on checklists to ensure nothing is missed.

You may not be landing an airplane or performing surgery, but I’m sure you have your share of complex tasks at work. Because, you know--people. Maybe it’s a project with many steps or coordinating between multiple teams. Here’s how checklists can help:

1. Simplifying Complexity: Checklists take a big, complicated task and break it down into smaller, manageable steps. It’s like having a roadmap to success. In aviation, pilots use checklists for pre-flight inspections, ensuring each component of the aircraft is in good working order before takeoff. In business, project managers can use checklists to break down complex projects into actionable steps, making the project seem less daunting and more manageable.
2. Standardizing Processes: With a checklist, everyone follows the same steps, which means consistent results, which is especially crucial in a business setting. Operating rooms in hospitals use checklists to confirm key steps before surgery, like verifying a patient’s identity and surgical site. Similarly, businesses can use checklists to standardize customer service procedures, ensuring every customer receives the same high-quality service.
3. Reducing Human Error: In healthcare, checklists are used to confirm critical details, like a patient’s name and the procedure to be performed, reducing the chance of errors. In manufacturing businesses, checklists are used to verify the setup of machinery and the sequence of operations, ensuring a consistently high-quality product.
4. Keeping It Simple: The best checklists are easy to understand and use, even in stressful situations. Airline emergency procedures are condensed into straightforward checklists to support pilots during crises. Similarly, in the event of a technical failure, IT departments in businesses can have a clear and concise recovery checklist, guiding them step-by-step to restore services quickly.
5. Promoting Teamwork: Checklists clarify roles and responsibilities, reducing the chance of miscommunication or overlooked tasks. They foster better teamwork and communication among team members. In commercial construction, checklists ensure that everyone on the project, from architects to builders, understands their tasks and responsibilities—promoting collaboration and preventing tasks from falling through the cracks. Likewise, businesses can use checklists for large team projects to clarify roles, promoting smoother teamwork and reducing chances for miscommunication.
6. Enabling Shared Decisionmaking: Checklists can empower everyone on a team to make informed decisions. Instead of constantly seeking guidance, team members can use the checklist to know what to do next. In medical settings, checklists are often used to guide treatment options based on the patient’s symptoms and medical history—allowing the medical team to make informed decisions collectively. In business, empowering employees with decision-making checklists based on best practices and company guidelines promotes autonomous decision-making and reduces constant managerial intervention.
7. Improving Training: For new employees, checklists serve as a guide, helping them understand key steps and avoid learning bad habits from the start. Often training new medical staff involves checklists to ensure key skills and procedures are covered and understood. Similarly, businesses can use checklists to onboard new employees, ensuring they receive all necessary information and training.

Dr. Gawande teaches us that checklists are not just simple tools but powerful aids for preventing errors, improving efficiency, and ensuring consistency in any business.

What complex tasks in your business could be simplified with a checklist? How can a checklist help your team work better together? If you have existing processes, what’s one checklist you could create this week to make things run smoother? I’d love to hear your ideas!

Remember, there’s power in the checklist.
Don’t underestimate its value to you and your team.