Why you should give checklists a try
We usually have a lot of things going on in our lives. There’s not only a lot to do but also remember. Luckily, there are options to make your life a little easier and this can be done by using an app like Multiple Checklists for Jira. We think that checklists can be a powerful tool both in your business and private life and in this article we would like to say why.
The importance of checklists
Checklists are considered so useful that there’s actually been a whole book devoted to them. “The checklist manifesto” covers the topic of how checklists can improve efficiency and safety. The author describes how a mistake during surgery was made. When the doctors were trying to correct it, the need for extra blood arose unexpectedly. Because they followed a checklist, it had been prepared ahead of time and the patient was saved.
In another story, a checklist prevented a doctor to give a patient drugs they were allergic to. Statistics show that when surgical teams started using checklists, deaths dropped by 40%.
But the significance of checklists does not limit to this industry only. When the US Army Air Corps introduced the Boeing B-17 in the 20th century, it was crashed by an experienced pilot. After this accident, a pilot’s checklist was introduced and aviators were obliged to use it. They managed to fly 1.8 million miles without any accidents.
Another example is the construction industry. It involves the cooperation of architects, engineers, and builders, each of them with the knowledge of a certain division. The whole process is complex and involves huge expertise. If anyone decided something on their own, it might lead to serious errors and incompatible decisions. That’s why one construction company decided to use checklists for communication. They specified who should be contacted, when, and about what. So, whenever something unexpected happened, construction workers knew who they should talk to before making any kind of decision.
Checklists help you deliver better results
When you use a checklist, you gain these two at the same time: the big picture of what needs to be done as well as the exact steps that need to be taken. When there’s a clear pattern to follow, you will be more productive and complete tasks faster. As a result, you will gain more time in a day. You will also be less likely to miss something on the way. As a result, you will deliver results flawlessly.
They will improve your mood in two ways
Ticking items off a list is a clear signal to your brain that you achieved something – completed a task. That makes it release the dopamine hormone which makes you feel better. Moreover, writing something down frees up your mind. You don’t need to make the mental effort to remember everything - your checklist remembers it for you.
They make you more likely to continue something
This one is connected with the previous point and the dopamine being released in your brain after completing a task. As this is a pleasant, positive experience, you will be more willing to repeat the action in the future.
They make it easier to delegate and execute tasks
Whenever you want to delegate a task, you can give the checklist over to somebody. That will reduce the time needed to explain things. Probably, you also won’t need to waste time repeating yourself – whenever the person forgets something, they can just look at the checklist. It will also make executing work easier, as you can just check if the items on the list have been ticked off or not.
They help you deliver consistent results
When the tasks you perform repeat, using a checklist will help you stay consistent. You will be less likely to omit something. As a result, the chances to constantly provide high-quality work will increase.
Summary
Using checklists undoubtedly brings many benefits. They can help you be more efficient and consistent. They can also make things easier for you and improve your mood. That’s why they have been recognized and appreciated by many different industries. If you feel like you could also take advantage of introducing them into your life, we encourage you to try out our Multiple Checklists for Jira.
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Ewa Grabowska-Ptak_SolDevelo_
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