When did you last 'inspect your equipment'?

The work we do with other humans is very 'human' work; conversations, listening, talking, problem solving, planning, discussing...

So when did you last check on the equipment you use in your human work?

Not only your own equipment - your brain, your attitude, your listening skills - but also the more tangible equipment you use: technology, collaborative tools like paper and pens, and the apps, processes, models, facilities and spaces you use. 

I was sitting at Sydney airport this afternoon waiting for a flight and I watched with interest how the pilot of the huge Qantas A380 walked down the stairs from the terminal gate, put on a high visibility vest and did a 'walk around' of the plane. 

There he was inspecting this massive piece of equipment, with so many other pieces of equipment (and people) in it. 

He walked around... stopped and looked at each of the four engines from all angles, hands on hips, peering up at all aspects of them. 

He checked the navigation lights on the wings; the wing tips, the tail elements, the landing gear. And there was a nod and quick conversation with flight engineers also walking around the plane, attending to pre-departure matters. 

When did you last do a 'walk around' of your workspace, and have a really good look at the tools you use, the space your occupy and the equipment you employ to get to your daily, weekly and yearly destinations? 

Get up out of your seat and go and have a look. Are the tools and equipment you use doing what you need them to? Are they up to the job? What more do you need? What needs fixing or maintaining? What would bring you greater efficiency with some attention and a 'look over' from you or others on the team?

Go and inspect the equipment and support materials you use that help you do your job.

When a couple of pilots walk around a more than 500 tonne plane with between 500 - 800 people on board to check it's fit for the task ahead, the least we can do is to check on our own equipment and see that it's fit for the purpose we require of it every day.