✅ Checklists: Friend Or Foe?

I once owned a Cessna R182 🛩️ . It was a 4-seater plane, capable of 150 knots, equipped with countless knobs and switches. Flying it was a ton of fun, and it came with a myriad of checklists: preflight, run-up, take-off, climbing, landing, emergencies, and more.

When I worked through these checklists, my goal was to stay focused and ensure I didn’t overlook anything. But, I rarely thought about why each item was on the list.

In the realm of software development, I find myself often using checklists. They don’t resemble an airplane’s checklist, but they serve a similar purpose.

For instance, the structure of a design document acts as a checklist, where each section represents an important aspect to consider for problem-solving.

Sometimes, I use a list of capabilities that a team should possess and review it with clients to ensure coverage in all the right areas.

👉 However, we can’t afford to treat these as mere checklists. When we work without grasping the "why" behind each item, we venture into risky territory.

The danger lies in being able to check off an item without actually achieving the intended goal.

I'll admit, there were times earlier in my career when I wasn't even clear about the goal behind a task. 🤷

So, the next time you find yourself or a team member mechanically checking off a box, stop and ask:

• What are the underlying goals for this item?
• What activities will fulfill those goals?
• Should we be approaching this differently or not doing it at all?