Work SMARTER, not Riskier or Harder: Here are your real MVPs at work!

From the desk of Miles Everson:

Hello, everyone!

I hope you’re all having a great Friday so far.

I’m thrilled to share with you another useful insight today. Each Friday, I talk about health, wealth, well-being, happiness, future of work, book reviews, marketing, tips, etc. with hopes of helping you thrive as an individual.

Today, let’s talk about an important habit that we should build in our professional careers.

Continue reading below to know why even experts need SOPs.

Work SMARTER, not Riskier or Harder: Here are your real MVPs at work!

There’s a curious thing that happens when you give someone a test with simple instructions:  Most people ignore them.

Tell a room full of adults they have two minutes to complete a 20-question quiz and watch how panic sets in. They scribble, stress, and sweat, only to discover that the first instruction was to read everything first.

Had they done that, they would’ve seen the final line telling them to simply sign their name and turn it in for a perfect score.

This is a perfect metaphor for a much deeper truth: In the heat of the moment, even the smartest among us tend to skip the basics. Ironically, it’s often the seasoned pros—not the rookies—who fall into this trap.

In a recent coaching comment session,  Professor Joel Litman , Chairman and CEO of  Valens Research  and Chief Investment Officer of  Altimetry Financial Research, talked about the surprising value of standard operating procedures (SOPs).

His message?

Even the most experienced professionals need  checklists .

The Checklist Bias: Why Experts Often Ignore What They Should Know Best

Drawing from insights in Atul Gawande’s book,  “The Checklist Manifesto,”  Professor Litman explained that the overconfidence of veterans often blinds them to the value of double-checking their steps.

Just like senior doctors in hospitals may bypass checklists under the belief that their experience is enough, professionals in finance, marketing, and other industries make the same critical error: They assume they’re too good for the basics.

The thing is, they’re  NOT.

Take something as simple as video conferencing…

Professor Litman emphasized the importance of a  Zoom  checklist—a standard guide that ensures lighting, sound, backgrounds, and connection quality are consistent and professional.

… and yet, he notes people still refuse to use the Zoom checklist thinking it’s their own system or background. The problem is, that creates  inconsistency … and inconsistency erodes trust—whether it’s in a course, a client call, or an internal meeting.

Besides, in an increasingly digital-first world, these so-called “minor” details are anything but. They’re the new suit-and-tie. The new handshake. The new first impression.

What’s more?

Professor Litman didn’t stop at office anecdotes. He even invoked the rescue of Apollo 13, one of history’s most celebrated space missions.

Amid chaos, disaster, and life-or-death stakes,  NASA ’s team didn’t rely solely on brilliance or instincts—they relied on procedures.NASA’s team didn’t rely solely on brilliance or instincts—they relied on  procedures.

“We follow procedures, or we don’t come home,”  was the quote from the mission team. For Professor Litman, this captures why SOPs are critical in both crisis and calm.

After all, when the pressure’s on—when deadlines loom and systems feel stretched—that’s when checklists become your lifeline.

Constructive Criticism, Not Compliance for Compliance's Sake

Professor Litman makes it clear:  Following a checklist isn’t about blind obedience. It’s about  awareness  and  intention .

If a checklist feels outdated, challenge it. If an SOP doesn’t reflect new tools like AI or  ChatGPT, speak up. The goal isn’t to freeze progress; it’s to structure it.

After all, innovation doesn’t come from ignoring the system; it comes from improving it.

In Professor Litman’s words:

“I don’t mind if someone says, ‘This part of the checklist needs to change.’ That’s how we grow. But just ignoring it? That’s a problem.”

—

Behind all of Professor Litman’s examples is a clear message to his team—and to all professionals:

Checklists aren’t crutches. They’re compasses.

SOPs aren’t constraints. They’re clarity.

So, the next time you find yourself thinking,  “I’ve done this a hundred times,”  take a breath. Pull up the checklist anyway.

… because the real pros? They don’t just wing it. They follow the flight plan—EVERY TIME.

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