14 KEYS TO CREATE A CHECKLIST

LET'S IMAGINE YOU ARE A senior manager and you have the opportunity to increase productivity, workers' safety, team morale and become a more effective team.

Just like with the TV infomercial there is more!

This opportunity will close more sales, increase the top line, reduce re-work and increase the profitability of the organisation. And it is not going to cost you big bucks- for new tooling, equipment, training and more personnel.

You would be crazy, if not negligent, not to at least find out more about this wonderkid of a development ? Yes? Yes!

Atul Gawande (@Atul_Gawande) in his book Checklist Manifesto writes of the origin of Checklists. A successful surgeon and author Gawande draws on his own experience to operate, literally, in a world of growing complexity.

At first, he writes of his own experience in the world medicine but broadens it to take in all areas of our community and life. Gawande was concerned by the exponential increase of surgical operations worldwide combined with complexity and specialisation of medicine, resulting in millions of deaths and disabilities that were not decreasing with the economies of scale.

With investigation, Atul realised, that level of death and disabilities from surgery came not so much from the fault of ignorance of knowledge, this was progressively being addressed by training and research break through, but the simple known aspects overlooked. What Gawande called ineptitude, where the knowledge exists but failed to be applied correctly.

Atul was asked by World Health Organisation (WHO) to improve Patient Care but without the support of a budget to invest in equipment or major training. He proposed Checklists be trialled in 8 hospitals in both developing and developed countries.

The result was a significant reduction in death and disabilities. It is now being rolled out in hospitals globally.

Checklists are not a To Do List.

Related but TO DO LIST is an endless list of things- both important and non important. A transactional, an analogue process which is often largely filled with just stuff (technical term is Crap).

A Checklist is concise and brief, comprising important items which MUST be done that moves us towards our Purpose or Goals. It is strategic 'must do’, having significant effect if it is not exercised.

Importantly Checklists will have a major effect on an organisation's results if the concept is understood and implemented in a correct manner. Its application doesn't require new million dollar machinery. Does not affect CapEx. In fact the cost to implement is minuscule . It's ROI incredible and impressive.

But it does require a much greater effort. It requires THINKING and Discipline to commitment.

But any CEO or Senior Manager has the courage to implement will be rewarded by great results and accolades.

Embracing Checklists will:

• Gain more prospects and clients-if included on a sales representatives Sales call Checklist, i.e. Last action before end of call: 'Ask for Referral’.
• Prevent error in prescribing drugs in Emergency (which happened to the writer’s relative and was fatal).
• Reduce rework (e.g., as simple as 'measure twice, cut once’).
• Get one last sale: 'Fries with that?'
• Facilitate cross selling ( ‘now is there anything we can further help you with…financial planning?"
• Focus employees in meetings (" Lets be clear on the purpose of todays meeting").

What's in it for me?

• Brings Focus to yourself, managers' and team as to what is important and what should be in focus
• Gives senior managers influence right to the frontline on correct process and procedures
• Ensures safety guidelines and shows diligence by senior managers to ensure they are complied- considering serious penalties for not following can be jail time.

14 Keys to Checklists 

1/ Know the difference between a Checklist and To Do List (often used wrongly and interchangeably).

2/ Ask what is the purpose of introducing a Checklist.

3/ Know that Checklists are limited to finite number of points - this could vary depending on the process but kept ideally kept to a minimum (a manageable and critical 5-7 items in many areas).

4/ Expressed in simple easy to understand language.

5/ Items included are 'must do', strategically aligned with the purpose and goals.

6/ Does not include items not regarded as important that would be done as a matter of course.

7/ The Checklist should be tested and trialled in operation until the correct items and number included are agreed.

8/ Implemented with a training program so there relevance and importance is understood and contrast to a To Do List.

9/ Can be Do and then Checkoff, or Check then Do.

10/ Could take a couple of minutes ( 90 seconds to 2 minutes- ideal to administer or complete).

11/ Checklist may be undertaken at pause points ( aircraft crew before pushback and then cockpit crew immediately before takeoff ).

12/ Could be adopted by a single person as a reminder and personal disciple to stay on track and help with their personal focus, or as an effective medium to coordinate a high performing team.

13/ Slowly introduce into your business where you can supervise the introduction.

14/ Must become a habit through repetition and used 100% at all times by senior management. ( Who are not exempt, or above the process because of rank.)

Be warned. As simple and as effective as Checklists are they will not be embraced by all in your business. There will be some who question their value, of having some of the items included and why it has to be strictly followed EVERY time.

These people, who are likely to pushback, should be consulted early and asked for their input, and understand why their support is crucial to the adoption of the new process of Checklists. They are often the most senior and most experienced. But also the most influential in adoption of change.

Atul Gawande acknowledges the pace and complexity of change has driven the necessity.

The volume and complexity of what we know has exceeded our individual ability to deliver its benefits correctly, safely, or reliably. Knowledge has both saved us and burdened us." 

It is a long way and time from the origin of Checklists, back to a 1936 crash of the prototype US military plane. An event which shaped the pre flight lists we are all familiar with flying, that have saved possibly millions of lives.

The origin of Checklists can be seen in the link to a preceding post:

http://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/how-old-ww2-bomber-can-effect-your-bottomline-d-keith-millar/edit

In summary, senior managers willing to implement the merits of Checklists will not be disappointed with outstanding results and accolades on offer for their leadership.

if you found this blog interesting and of value we invite you to LIKE and SHARE for others also to gain from the benefits of CHECKLISTS. 

OTHER POSTS INCLUDE:

• Darwin Awards for Sales people
• What is your Coaching philosophy
• Remarkable People leave their mark

7 Things I would tell a Younger me

 

What would you say to your younger self?

This is a question I pondered when I saw a photograph recently of a young man taken 30 years ago.

A picture of a young man with the innocence and bright eyes of hope and expectation.

About to graduate business school and enter a world with different rules and an environment harsher than the one he had grown up and protected from.

A photo I had never seen before, and couldn’t remember being taken, and one that rocked me some because the subject’s perceived naivety.

I wanted to ask him at that moment of time, what he hoped for, believed in, and what the future held?

In return I would give him the heads up. Maybe give him the edge to get ahead faster, further but not rob him of the challenge and exuberance of personal independence.

I saw as my 7 pearls of wisdom.A list that would not overwhelm him but serve him all his life. Give him a short cut.

"Keith, can I have a moment? Why yes” he says. "Who are you? You look familiar?” He adds.

"Lets say I know you and thought some words of advice might help. it could save you a lot of time, and emotion." I add.

"Yes, okay sounds okay."

“Please . If I could leave them with you, but then I must rush and won’t be able to discuss them.

"But we’ll catch up in the future.”

“Okay.” He looks bewildered and puzzled but respectful as I knew he would be.

I begin.

1/ What goes around, Comes around

Don’t worry where you start, it only matters where you finish. Over time those who finish first, will finish last and vice versa.

Life is unpredictable. Play the hand you are dealt. Never compare yourself with another be it money, skill, family, looks or material

goods. Because when we compare, we draw comparison with someone’s best with our worst. A comparison that will never win for you.

If you hang in there, and want it badly enough, you will achieve it, have it, or become it over time.

2/ Don’t become Good, become Great

The world is full of good people. Good has become the new normal of mediocre. If you think people are scared of failure wait to you find how people

are more afraid of something else. Success. Of being great. Why you might ask? You will be warned by others, people who are your closest

in a bid to save your from hurt, disappointment. Don’t aim so high. Have realistic expectations they will say. They know if you become great at something it threatens their own standing. Their own self esteem and acceptance of mediocre. The most competition takes place at the ‘good' level. Its rarified air where the “great’ populate. Aim for the stars. Live your dreams Remember the competition is at its most at the level of good.

3/ When the Student is ready, the Teacher will come.

You are about to graduate from RMIT. Good. Now the learning starts. You think now you have finished that you should be entitled to top dollar from the getgo.

Son the learning is only now about to start. Your ‘piece of paper’ just gets you into the game. It is no guarantee you will get a job, and if you do, you will feel you are underpaid for that job, fore in your mind it doesn’t match the level of effort and training you have had. You are about to learn a major life lesson, unless you are joining the public service, which you aren’t, you are paid in arrears for results not time. Your best employers' will select you on your attitude and not on your skill.

You are about to become part of one of the most dynamic periods of human existence and change will be exponential.You will be both challenged but rewarded if you keep ahead of the change continuum. The only thing you must do is become a life long learner. Many will not. There is the opportunity.

4/ In Credit we Distrust.

With prosperity, which you will be front centre of, will come all sort of ‘toys’ and 'must haves'. What’s more you will want it all, and now. You will not earn enough fast enough to pay for them all. Enter credit. Eager. Seducing banks and financial institutions.

You will appease your conscious knowing that there is arguably good debt and bad debt. I will not be able in your early years to stop you falling under the spell of such economic devices. But I do say to you seek out and learn to understand the concept of Compound Interest. Better known as the 8th wonder of the world.

5/ To have good friend, be a good friend

You have established good relationships with many friends, through family school and soon work. Many of these people will wash through your life, just as you will with them. That is not a disadvantage or a negative but whilst you have common goals your relationship will be tight and meaningful.

But as time, jobs and roles change so will the range and composition of these colleagues and associates. But a handful will mean more to you than others. But good friendships don’t just happen. They must be worked on continually and pro-actively.

Don’t wait for others to contact you, and remain aloof and remote. You must be willing to be a good friend first, to have good friends who will be there for you.

6/ Be a Goal setter, but also appreciate Happenstance and Serendipity.

You will be bitten early the need for lists and goal setting. In fact you will become a goal setting fanatic, that will rise to another level the day you find out about SMART.

But don’t become a good luck denier. Appreciate yes you do make some of your own luck, but there is a major part of life made of serendipitous occurrences and randomness.

Being in the right place at the right time. Meeting your future wife, a night you worked in a bar she walked in with friend, the day you called in in the off chance of seeing a mate and his boss offering you a job that would change your future. Your parents moving to he other side of town when you were 17 years, an action that was deliver your 15 minutes of fame.

So be on the look out for those opportunities that others may just call luck.

7/ You have but one thing. Time and not enough of it.

Understand as change accelerates in the very near future, it has an invert relation with Time. Relatively it becomes shorter.

You have arrived on Earth, and like everyone else, you have arrived with one thing (other than the fear of loud noises) and that is Time.

You have the same number of minutes in the hour, hours in the day, and days in the year. Your life will be run by the clock. Whilst people speak of getting more time, they can’t

You should look to leverage your own. Leveraging your money for greater return, in the least amount of time. Saving your own time by employing others, to leverage your skills and through the time and specialist training of others.

Minimising the wasting of your time through mechanical devices (whether that be through inventions of the future Microwaves, Computers, Blowers, and faster cars and jet planes.- on second thought forget I said blowers!)

When you apply your own time treat all things equal, but some things more equal than others. Base your allocation of your time according to priorities which flow from your goals. The challenge is to stop distractions ( your’s and other people’s) and appreciate Vilfredo Pareto’s 80/20 rule.

But remember its latter than you think. But not to late to learn.

Finally. Life is Short. Enjoy it. Don’t take it or yourself to seriously.

Laugh.Laugh often. Laugh louder and longer. And most importantly enjoy the ride! I know it is going to be a great one.

"Keith don’t worry if these things don’t make sense now. They will eventually.’ I finish.

"Oh no!” He says. " Some sound helpful. But I guess I am a different type than you.”He adds. "You seem a little heavy and too serious.And if you don’t mind me saying. A little spooky! I could never be you."

"Bye the way who is it we know in common?" He asks inquisitively.

"Sorry Keith, got to run. We will meet I am sure sometime in the future.” I finish.

"Wait, wait before you go!! “ He yells after me.

"Hey you left something.

"This rectangle thingy. With the bitten apple…"

"Hey you…."

What Reality TV Can Teach us about Surviving our World

                                                 

"I AM A CELEBRITY GET ME OUT OF HERE ! is about to start on Oz TV. I know because the overflow of hype is even getting to me. 

Its about B lister wannabes  dropped into the African jungle to mingle in an environment of things that creep, crawl, sting and bite.

Even Betfair is running a book. Who will re-enter the known world with bragging rights to King or Queen of the jungle? Also giving odds who will be the first to pull the pin? I would  bet on me the first to go AWOL. Why because I am a card caring member of the cowards' club that freaks when a leech attaches itself whilst I was swimming in waterholes in Jabiru, NT.

But maybe even here in this latest television reality show there are secrets to learn for our success.

You see I am a great believer that in the most negative circumstances comes a point of positive learning that we can benefit from. So be it, even if it is  contrived reality TV.

Without knowing all the rules and conditions of the show, the last man or woman standing, will be the result of a series of challenges based on human nature which go back to our origin and survival. We could learn from this to make our own life more successful.

The eclectic celebrity group pitched against the wilds of the jungle will require the collaboration of others to get them through the  hostile environment. Individuals who didn't know each other weeks ago will be forced to team, communicate and empower each other. Certainly in the early stages to survive the conditions ( and the rules). As light and entertaining as this contrived adventure 'soapie' will be, it is a metaphor why we are the dominant species on our planet.

Hebrew University of Jerusalem,  Professor, Dr Yuval Noah Harari (author of 'A Brief History Of Humankind')  on respected Radio National 'Big Ideas' recently  spoke in his keynote address why Homo Sapiens (i.e. us) are the lone surviving species ( there were 6 originally and we are the remaining one), what led to the demise of our 'competition' and what was the one characteristic that got us top of the heap in the animal kingdom. 

He believes it was the unique ability to collaborate,  to cooperate flexibly in both small and large numbers, form into clans, tribes and later nations.

No other animal species can do that (although many form herds and groups ) but not in major numbers . This has led us , till now at least, to prosper and take on enemies and competitor species. (BTW - it looks like our prehistoric antecedents had blood on our hands and guilt with the fate of the other 5 species including Neanderthals.)

FAST FORWARD TO TODAY. Each of us form teams with people we know intimately and able with those we have just met ( the escape of a pair caught in the Sydney siege were not to each other hours before) to achieve mutual goals.  Parents form a bond to educate and raise their children,  sporting clubs to win premierships,  and organizations to meet charitable causes , and armies to defend and see off invaders.

We are social creatures, that would not survive today if it wasn't the interdependence with others. Adam Smith's specialization of labor saw to this.

While we depend on Coles or Woolies to feed us, I shudder to think how our life would change and  what would happen if we reverted to the store open hours of the 60s and 70s. IMAGINE  not being able to buy liquor after 6pm and closed on Sundays.

This may be all apparent with essentials on Maslow's Hierarchy, but I am not sure we appreciate  how we could take it to the next level and maximise this effect.

Lets face it. Life is tough. Not many of us get to the top of the ladder. Its as if we haven't been given the code to get past struggle street. This can be demonstrated by the few 'haves' and the many 'have nots". Also supported by stats which has 80% of the community on some form of welfare.  What I propose is that each of us to survive and prosper in this dynamic and complex world should appoint  and form our own specialist team (high performance coaches if you would) but in all areas of our and our families life and development. To look after and ensure our health, wealth and prosperity. You might think what I propose in fact takes place. I agree but more on an adhoc basis and not too the level and high standard we should aim for. A collaboration of a highly skilled group there for us.

Even Colliers International, commercial real estate giant has stopped 'hot desks' in preference to chairs and desks that can  be configured into collaborative groups at will.

This  team of high standard specialists that known to us and appointed by us  are fully briefed committed to  our aspirations. For example Team Millar would comprise:

• GP Medical doctor                                               
• Solicitor
• Parenting  Expert    
• Career councilor
• Mentor
• Psychologist
• Happiness expert
• Dietician
• Health and Wellbeing coach
• Financial & Investment advisor

Today we find ourselves too busy to attend a doctor regularly, we go to a local lawyer at the corner, we rarely seek out parenting advice preferring to learn on the job, badly fitted to jobs we are poorly trained for and usually hate, suffering mental illness ranging from mild bouts in depression to bi polar.

The most richest and successful, from Bill Gates to Google's Eric Schmidt, say that everyone should have a mentor and coach. As for health, happiness and diet very few give a second thought yet many say they are unhappy betting big time on winning the lottery to solving this.

History tells us, we are served on a needs basis in each of these areas often by people who have dubious communication skills and usually at best mediocre . The excuse is time , money or that we see each as a commodity that can be purchased at a moments notice. Absolutely correct. If we are willing to gamble with such life affecting areas and accept whatever the outcome from people who are chosen because they are geographically handy.

Alternatively each appointed to our DREAM team ( such for the example, Team Millar) would be scrutinised closely and  highly detailed on the family and each's aspirations. Client service, professional knowledge and ability to communicate in non professionalese would be expected premium standard. They would be pro active in meeting our needs and as concerned and committed about us achieving our goals as we are.

Their service would  include at least annual reviews, webinars for people to catch up from the comfort of their homes, and educational seminars. (Seminars and virtual meetings will become common as the high speed NBN  is rolled out).  Importantly these would not be an excuse to 'flog' a product of the moment which many today financial advisers are guilty, but to add to their clients' knowledge about their personal success and well being.

The Dream team of your own key band of people who would simply know where WE stand,  where WE are heading and provide a pro active means of how WE might  get there.

Will the appointment to our first 11, become common. Sadly no. People preferring,  by default of the rushed society we live today, taking the transactional approach to life.

Is it a new idea? No! But it is done to a limited extent by some of  the most successful in our community. Should it be done by more. YES. and whats more a happiness and well being , let alone financially, a 'business case could be made which shows how much better we would be off.

Maybe its worth a try, just  to over come the challenges of Today's world. Not the least being mediocre professional service.