Use repeatable elements

An ad hoc approach to the project takes too much energy and resources, and always runs the risk of missing some of the necessary elements. The best way of simplifying what has to be done is to use repeatable elements, and preferably to take them in repeatable cycles.

A good example is quality checklists. If there’s something you have to check frequently, create a simple checklist that contains everything you have to check. This way, you don’t have to think about it every time and you can spend all your mental energy on the actual work. As you use the checklist, you will find ideas for improving it, which is a great form of continuous improvement.

Another example of repeatable elements is the project management cycles used in P3.express and some other systems. You have a cyclic approach that repeats constantly, and it gradually becomes second nature to you without requiring too much of your mental energy.