Transform workplaces with one-minute checklists

Checklists might sound trivial—after all, most of us can brush our teeth without a list—but when outcomes matter, even small omissions can be deadly. Surgeons long ago discovered that a simple pre-op checklist at the World Health Organization cut post-surgical complications by over a third. Airline pilots recite multi-step routines before every flight. Manufacturing giants still swear by kaizen and PDCA cycles, but everyday teams often dismiss checklists as too basic.

Psychologist Atul Gawande mapped this phenomenon in The Checklist Manifesto, showing how checklists codify universal best practices and free the brain to tackle novel problems. In high-pressure moments they reduce decision load: you don’t have to think, just follow the list. Teams who test these tools in a huddle find surprising benefits—faster onboarding, fewer mistakes and a shared language of excellence.

Imagine your next project meeting. Instead of recalling ten best practices by rote, you glance at your one-page checklist. It re-orients your team, sparks quick alignment and prevents the small slip-ups that derail big wins. Over months, that simple list can become your culture’s totem—an everyday ritual that binds people to common standards.

Ultimately, the science shows us that checklists create resilience and reliability by automating routine steps, boosting performance so you can focus on creative and strategic challenges.

First, map out the routine tasks your team performs in high-stakes moments. Next, hone that list down to just seven essential items that fit on one page; simplicity is key. Write each command as clear, jargon-free language so anyone can follow it in sixty seconds. Then, test it in your next team huddle—run through every point in under a minute and invite quick feedback. This ritual not only cements shared best practices but also signals that even the basics matter. Try it in tomorrow’s meeting.