Airplane pilots have checklists that they follow for pre-flight and pre-landing preparation. The checklist has its genesis in 1935 when the U.S. Army received a new plane from Boeing that crashed and burst into flames soon after takeoff on its first flight. Why? It crashed because the experienced pilots forgot one important step, just one simple thing. So the Army and Boeing developed a pilot checklist. After the checklist was developed, the model never had another fatal accident due to pilot error. Today every airplane has such checklists and helps explain why aviation is as safe as it is.

Leaders should also have a checklist because, like pilots, we often crash and burn because we forget to do the basics. Like flying, we pretty much know what makes someone a great people leader. What separates the great people leaders from the mediocre ones is actually doing the things that engage people on a regular basis.

What should be on that leader checklist? Well here are a few items we ought to check off weekly, if not daily.

• Said good morning to people and thanked them for coming in-CHECK
• Recognized someone for doing good work today- CHECK
• Asked my people for their opinion this week on something and listened-CHECK
• Asked people what was happening in their life outside of work-CHECK
• Celebrated “team wins”-CHECK
• Communicated what is happening in the larger company to keep people connected
to the bigger picture-CHECK
• Demonstrated passion and enthusiasm for my own work-CHECK
• Told a story or in some other way reminded my team of the higher purpose of their work-CHECK
• Wrote a personal note thanking someone at work this week-CHECK
• Mentored someone on my team this week with important feedback that will improve their career or life-CHECK
• Communicated my expectations clearly this week so my team knows what matters right now-CHECK

Imagine what might happen if every leader in a company went through this checklist on a weekly and daily basis? Pilot checklists were developed to avoid accidents and these are the “incidents” that will be avoided if leaders use the checklist. Disappointing employee survey results-AVOIDED. Staff leaving for another job or company-AVOIDED. People feeling unappreciated or unclear on priorities-AVOIDED. Staff members feeling they are just doing a series of tasks rather than making a difference-AVOIDED.

Every day, leaders fail with their people simply because they failed to do the basics. After the Army developed the checklist for the prototype of the B-17, the checklist would become the norm for all airplanes. Maybe it is time that leader’s had a checklist too. Why not develop one for yourself and for your company.

Do good work and be well.

John