You know it’s a good idea to double-check your work in your business.
That’s just good common sense for the world of work and life in general.
But have you ever had one of those moments when you’re completely engrossed in your work? You’re poised, eager, and ready to move on to the next task, assignment, or project.
Pausing to double-check your work seems like a waste of time. Unfortunately, rushing through these moments may do you more harm than good when it comes to the big picture in your work.
That’s why it’s so important to take a step back every now and then to take stock of the work we’ve done, as well as where we’re going.
Here are five practical tips you can take to embrace the art of the double-check in your daily work routine.
Listen to your gut.
Your gut can be an incredibly powerful productivity tool. But that’s only if you put it to use.
When was the last time you followed through on a gut feeling about something in your business?
You may have had an inkling to check a file from last week or phone a vendor to confirm your conversation from earlier in the day.
But you might have squashed and dismissed that thought as quickly as it came to you, only to find out you should have acted on that feeling.
The next time you have a feeling you should check on something, follow through on that guidance. It takes only a moment or two to check something.
If nothing is amiss, you’ll make a mental note and move on with your day.
But if something is amiss, you’ll have potentially averted a challenging scenario or circumstance from occurring.
Review facts as they stand.
It’s all too easy to check the status of orders, information, and materials in today’s digital world from our desks, cellphones, and cars.
Unfortunately, this is where complacency happens. Just because we can check an order anywhere on the globe doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll actually review the order.
You may be unfortunately lulled into a false sense of security of the accuracy of facts, numbers, files, notes, calendars, and connections.
That’s why it’s so important to challenge your assumptions and perceptions about information. The only way to confirm information is to actually confirm it.
Ask someone else for their perspective.
“Do you remember if we have a checklist for that file?”
Sometimes it helps to get out of your head and ask someone else for their assistance.
We all experience the world in different ways. What you absorb, understand, and perceive at any given moment will be completely different than someone else’s experience.
Meet with immediate staff, colleagues, and co-workers to confirm or corroborate information.
You can also use this approach with vendors, suppliers, and professionals for past work. Ask thoughtful questions to find answers related to the information you seek.
Double-check the double-check.
Ever have one of those moments where you feel like something is still amiss in your work?
Don’t be afraid to take things one step further in your due diligence. Depending on the circumstances, you may have to retrace your steps one, two, three, or four steps back further than you had initially planned.
Often, errors occur in places we hadn’t previously considered. That’s why it’s important to realize you may have to unravel the cord just a bit more to find suitable answers.
Where might have things taken an unexpected turn? Consider each moment or iteration of your work for clues.
Learn from your mistakes.
Sometimes, the only way to learn to embrace the power of a double-check is to do so the hard way. And that is often through the experience of trial and error.
Think about a recent project, assignment, business transaction, or daily task. Where did things become confusing? When did things become unclear?
Once you’ve identified troublesome spots, you can create a practical checklist for yourself.
This can be as simple as a checklist on a sticky note or a full-blown text document with a comprehensive double-checking procedure.
Learn how to double-check your work
Double-checking work in your business has the potential to save you valuable time and money.
My to do list training will teach you how prioritizing the right to-dos can help you get things done.
If you want help streamlining your daily workflow in your business, then check out my productivity consulting services. Book a strategy session with me today!
How about you? How are you going to apply these steps to your work? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!
This article originally appeared on Inc.com.
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