Goals tell you where to go, but your habits and processes help you get there.
I have a process to plan my week. A process that allows me to ensure I work on my goals and do my success activities. A process that keeps me on track and focused and prevents me from doing make busy work.
Recently I attended a six-day live training to expand my coaching skills and tools.
At the end of day 5, there was an optional question-and-answer segment with one of the company’s founders focusing on marketing and systems/processes.
Someone asked a question about automation.
I was interested in his answer, and his answer was simply checklists. He told the person that checklists are your friend.
My husband is a pilot, we are part owners in a small plane, and I like flying with him.
I am comfortable flying with him because he takes safety very seriously.
Before the plane comes out of the hangar, he does his walk-through. The walk-through is the same each time, and it’s the same because he uses a checklist.
Once the plane is pulled out of the hangar, and we get in, he pulls out the checklist again and goes through the items.
When I am with him, I like reading off the checklist while he checks it. Before the plane moves, we check power, fuel, and more.
There are checklists as we pull up to the take-off, a checklist for take-off, and an in-air checklist. There are checklists for getting ready for landing and closing up the plane.
These checklists create habits. The checklists ensure we don’t make assumptions that could cause a life.
It’s not fancy – It is a laminated booklet.
It’s simple. It works.
When I worked in corporate, I was responsible for a team of accountants. We had to accurately and timely produce financial statements.
Checklists were my friend.
My team knew what needed to get done, in what order, and by when. Based on our checklists, we knew if we were behind and where a teammate might need help.
These checklists were even more critical each quarter. Each quarter, we had additional tasks, and because we didn’t do them as often, there was a risk that we would forget something. However, our checklists prevented this.
My team was known to deliver on-time quality results consistently.
When I joined my husband in his business, this was one of the first things I implemented.
We implemented checklists for what needed to be done daily, weekly, monthly, and more.
We even created a ticket managing/escalation checklist.
These checklists brought everyone onto the same page and created consistency. When something happened, we would review our lists and what changes we needed to make. These checklists empowered the staff to know what decisions they could make without approval.
For example, they had a lot of wiggle room to waive shipping charges without getting approval from my husband or me.
Today, Acuity Path uses checklists to ensure we deliver consistent quality to our clients.
When you join my accountability group, I pull out my checklist related to the onboarding process. When you become a coaching client, I have a different onboarding process.
I have a process/checklist for the success activities I do each day, week, and month. I have a day open process, a day close process, and a weekly process.
To some, this may seem restrictive, but it is the opposite. When I know what to do and when I free my mind to be creative when I need to be creative and solve problems.
You don’t have to start with complicated; a simple checklist is a great place to start.
As you grow, you can look at automating your checklists, hiring a virtual assistant with your checklists, or even hiring a team. However, you developed a process that works because you used your checklist. Once that you can teach.
A checklist is your friend. Where might you implement a checklist today?
The checklist is one of the most high powered productivity tool ever discovered.Brian Tracy
The checklist is one of the most high powered productivity tool ever discovered.
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