Checklists Quote by Atul Gawande
“Just using a checklist requires [doctors] to embrace different values from ones we've had, like humility, discipline, teamwork.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande, 2009
Adopting checklists forces clinicians to adopt humility, discipline, and teamwork, shifting from solo decision‑making to collaborative safety culture.
In simple terms: Checklists need humility, discipline, teamwork.
Embrace checklists to improve safety.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- surgery
- hospital wards
- emergency departments
- medical training
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can teams balance checklist rigor with clinical judgment?
- What barriers exist to adopting checklists?
Checklists can be seen as bureaucratic and may reduce flexibility.