As I have mentioned in an earlier post, checklists have a lot to do with productivity as it facilitates efficient planning and basically buys into the dopamine effect in a very constructive manner.If you haven't used a checklist by will so far.. I suggest you read this post. Moreover,this article talks about why use a checklist,types of checklist, lives saved in hospitals due to the implementation of checklists,Tips on how to build your own checklist and a checklist of checklists to enhance the checklist productivity experience.
Why is this written ?
Being obsessed with productivity, I wanted to optimize my checklist to reap the best benefits out of it. But what's on my check list necessarily need not be on yours right? Obviously. We've got different stuff to do. But there can be one way or one effective suggestion on how the structure of a checklist can go about so that anyone can follow it. Sounds too good to be true? We'll it is.. True.and I badly wanted to share it with you.
Types of Checklist.
Don't get overwhelmed by the heading.there are only two possible types of checklist in my experience and opinion.
- The Read-Do Checklist.
- The Do-Confirm Checklist.
The Read - Do Checklist.
This is the checklist most suitable for doing something totally new,the stuff you need more attention to pay in every step so that the process doesn't go out of hand.It was used in the first ever rocket launch(I know I've said this n my previous post but it's worth a re mention as it can do wonders).
The Do - Confirm Checklist.
This is suitable for well known stuff which you need to do it in a correct manner to get the desired output step by step.Brain surgeons use the checklists to ensure the activities performed are according to the planned order.
There isn't much of a big difference in approach between the two but once you use it,you'll feel the difference.
Now before you decide to go away thinking it is meant for high professionals and you are well off with your good memory power,here's the catch.
Checklists reduce the complexity helping the brain to focus on work.You can implement checklist in almost any situation in life where you feel you'd need to have a lot of information in mind to exhibit in a chronological order to get it done right,or the stuff you might just forget.
Why checklist ?
Considering the spike in performance and all the benefits of using a checklist,one may think"How something so cheap like a pen and paper give results that can be worth a lot ?" If you are one among those,Remember,
The best things in the world are free :)
Okay so back to the topic..Why a checklist?
Mind is a bad place to store the information you'd need to access regularly. You need to remove that cognitive pressure from the brain to function well.When you do something you've never done before, you need to structure it well by simplifying it into smaller executable pieces that will gradually help you to achieve the task, step by step.
A Checklist Case Study you might have heard of.
Athul Gawande, the Author of the Book,"The checklist Manifesto" was approached by the World Health Organization regarding the death rates of patients while performing surgeries he came up with a checklist.Yeah a Checklist. A goddamn checklist.
After the implementation,the following results were observed.
Complications level fell 35 % death rates fell 47% after the checklist implementation.
You can see about this more on his ted talk.
Tips on drafting your checklist.
Split up the large chunk.
The first process in simplifying your checklist is splitting up the large task into smaller tasks.Every process from cooking to building machinery can be split into smaller parts.
Keep them manageable.
Don't over whelm your self by making a checklist of stuff you'd need to do all day long.Time management plays a major role in task accomplishment.
Group the tasks.
If you have similar tasks or tasks that require the same resources or equipment,group them and finish them all together.This helps a lot.
Don't have a permanent checklist.
In my experience I don't prefer sticking to a checklist for more than a month,unless it is designed that way.You eventually get better at anything you do and can get more better.So keep upgrading and challenging yourself. Push limits.
Checklist for checklists by Greg, author of essential-ism.
The Author of the book "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" came up with a Do - Check checklist that will help you a lot.
- Observe your process.
- Record your process.
- Refine your process.
- Teach your process to others.