The tip that ticks all the boxes

Robert Gerrish It amazes me how many times I come away from a life experience with something valuable to my business. In many cases, the gems are as simple as they are surprising. Here’s one I was reminded of a couple of weeks ago.

In the midst of a client coaching call, my mind floated off to the plains of Africa. Fear not, I took my client with me as I intend to take you now.

In the early 90s, I took a year out to travel the world. I like to think of it as long service leave after a successful decade, but a response to a ‘burnt out and buggered’ state is nearer the truth.

Semantics aside, I found myself in Zimbabwe with my dear sister. Here we were in the back of an old Landrover about to drive off on safari.

As we readied ourselves, our guide handed us a large sheet of paper with names and line drawings of the animals and birds we were likely to encounter. There were hundreds of them and alongside each was a little checkbox. See the species, tick the box. Easy really.

The effect of having this checklist was profound. Instead of just staring out the window in amazement, we looked intently at every moving thing and made sure we distinguished between a Great White Pelican and a Pink-backed Pelican.

In business - as evidenced by my client who had just suffered from a disturbing failing in a key aspect of his work - checklists help ensure we do routine things completely and efficiently.

Two key examples that benefit me hugely are my checklists for ‘Organising speaking engagements’ and ‘Taking on new clients’.

Both have a number of key components and actions covering details that if omitted, make me look very silly.

“Didn’t I tell you I needed a laptop for my presentation? Oops.”

Hey, who wants to write a new checklist this week? Who has a gem to share?

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Until next week.

Love your work,

Robert Gerrish is Flying Solo’s managing director and founder and works as a business coach, professional speaker, business commentator and consultant. He’s the co-author of Flying Solo – How to go it alone in business.

23 comments | Add your own 1 2 3 4 | Next» View all»

Hi Robert,
As a former commercial pilot, I can attest that checklists are an incredibly efficient and failsafe way to ensure that everything is as it should be. I try to bring those lessons into my solo business now, because as my old flight instructor used to say - "If you assume anything, it will kill you!". Devan from Darwin, Australia
I love checklists, and they are great for my very-Germanic self. Today, I have a long to-do list to get ready for a translator conference in Orlando, FL, and includes exciting things like "Take business cards" "Don't forget Blackberry charger" "Bring quarters as they have toll roads in Orlando as opposed to Las Vegas", etc. It's always a great feeling of accomplishment to cross out things off the list, even if it is just small tasks.
No great safari stories from me today.... Judy Jenner from Las Vegas, NV, USA
As I do not have a great memory, checklists are a must for my business. The one I find really useful and in the end time saving concerns our customers. We have a checklist for the total procedure when we get a new customer so in about 5 minutes following the checklist everything is in place. Susan Oakes from Sydney
Great article Rbt. Brings back checklist memories. Ever flown a Cessna in the bush? Thought not. Bush flies in the cockpit were a real problem. This checklist was a real sanity saver. Obscure? Yes. Practical? You bet. Swat up!. Crl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blAojzXzMvs carl from Sydney
Will you show me yours if I show you mine Robert? I would love to know what's in your check lists!
Yes, I use check lists for all sorts of things to keep my mind focussed on what needs to be done in various aspects of my business - from processing a new member of my team, to preparing for a speaking engagement. Kathie M. Thomas from Melbourne, Australia | Read my articles
Hi Robert,
I am a family day carer, care for children in my own home. Every time a new child wants to enrol, I get out my checklist with all the paperwork I need to hand out to the prospective family, so I don't forget anything. After I receive back the paperwork there is a lot that needs to be updated, from emergency details in the car to the choice of hand towel the new child would like to use. It makes my life so much easier to just follow my checklist (that gets new things added to every now and then) and not having to worry about remembering.... Daphne from Cairns

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