Over the last few weeks I have given a number of presentations sharing our 10 signs of an effective team. I have presented these in a form of a checklist to guide professional practice. Surgeon, Atul Gawande, makes a powerful case for the impact of checklists to inform the reliable work of pilots, engineers and operating theatre staff. Checklists, he says, are useful in situations where there is low ignorance (ie people tend to know what they SHOULD do), but a high propensity for ineptitude (ie failing to apply what is known).

The next three idenk digests will list the first 3 items in our 10 point checklist for great team working. Before that, take time to think

1) What checklists do you, your team, your professional tribe or your organisation already use?

2) Where might checklists to codify and standardise be useful?

Tags: organisation, working life