Checklists and External Thinking

Remember this adage attributed to Maslow: If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail? 

I may be guilty of that as I write this.  I recently came across a You Tube video interview featuring Soenke Ahrens in which he emphasized the importance of external thinking (thinking on paper, for example).  He was elaborating on Zettlekasten, a combination of workflow and method to make and curate notes as a pivotal strategy for personal growth.

I found that video captivating and very influential.  As I watched Atul Gawande’s presentation about his book The Checklist Manifesto at Microsoft, therefore,  I could not help but view checklists as external thinking tools to ingrain and foster important habits/routines.

Late in this presentation, we understand the importance of checklists when Gawande reveals that the Miracle on Hudson was in large part due to the ingrained professionalism of pilots who routinely use checklists as antidote to complacency.

According to Gawande, Captain “Sully” had never flown with his copilot before.  Prior to their flight, however, the two pilots went through checklists that let them rehearse through potentially dangerous scenarios.  

When engines ingested geese on that fateful flight, therefore, the pilots were mentally ready to handle the challenge.  A humble tool like checklist indeed proved to be the difference between life and death.

I believe checklists are simple but powerful external thinking tools.  They serve to ingrain habits/routines.  In addition, provide a safety net to ensure that an over reliance on our mind does not lead us to disasters.