Checklists: A Simple Tool with Complex Benefits
The Solution: Checklists
Checklists by themselves are not the proverbial "silver bullet" that will eliminate all mistakes, but they will help reduce mistakes and improve our quality and effectiveness. I have had multiple teams earn quality certifications like the MPTQM (Mail Processing Total Quality Management) from the U.S. Postal Service and ISO-9001. A key component to earning these certifications and ensuring consistent quality in our operations is the use of checklists. Our ultimate goal is not just to have people ticking boxes on a checklist. Our ultimate goal is to have our teams embrace a culture of teamwork, discipline and quality—and checklists can be a useful means to that end.
Wes Friesen is a proven leader and developer of high performing teams and has extensive experience in both the corporate and non-profit worlds. A former in-plant manager, he is also an award-winning university instructor and speaker, and is the president of Solomon Training and Development, which provides leadership, management and team building training. His book, Your Team Can Soar! contains 42 valuable lessons that will inspire you, and give you practical pointers to help you—and your team—soar to new heights of performance. Your Team Can Soar! can be ordered from Xulonpress.com/bookstore or wesfriesen.com. Wes can be contacted at wesmfriesen@gmail.com.
