There’s often resistance to using checklists or field cards.
They can feel:
· Basic
· Unnecessary
· Like something you “shouldn’t need”
Or worse:
· A sign you’re slipping
I’ve had that conversation many times.
People will push back:
“I don’t want to be that person.”
But then I usually ask a simple question.
Do you want the surgeon who uses the checklist?
Or the one who doesn’t?
The answer is obvious.
Astronauts, pilots, and surgeons are highly trained operators.
They still use structured, simplified checklists.
Not because they lack skill.
Because the margin for error is small.
A field card doesn’t replace judgment.
It supports performance when conditions are complex and stakes are high.
If a gap exists—or is likely to exist—that’s the time to use one.
There’s no loss of credibility in referencing a card.
No different than using speaker notes.
You still show up.
You still perform.
The card just helps you deliver what matters.
Be humble.
Be accurate.
Be effective.
It’s just a tool.
Field Cards Are Not a Sign of Weakness
There’s often resistance to using checklists or field cards.
They can feel:
· Basic
· Unnecessary
· Like something you “shouldn’t need”
Or worse:
· A sign you’re slipping
I’ve had that conversation many times.
People will push back:
“I don’t want to be that person.”
But then I usually ask a simple question.
Do you want the surgeon who uses the checklist?
Or the one who doesn’t?
The answer is obvious.
Astronauts, pilots, and surgeons are highly trained operators.
They still use structured, simplified checklists.
Not because they lack skill.
Because the margin for error is small.
A field card doesn’t replace judgment.
It supports performance when conditions are complex and stakes are high.
If a gap exists—or is likely to exist—that’s the time to use one.
There’s no loss of credibility in referencing a card.
No different than using speaker notes.
You still show up.
You still perform.
The card just helps you deliver what matters.
Be humble.
Be accurate.
Be effective.
It’s just a tool.
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