One-page how-to builder

Answer a few questions about something you do. You get a how-to that fits on one page, ready for someone else to follow.

to see how it works, then change it.
The task
Before you start

What the person needs to have to hand. Optional.

The steps

One action per step, in order. Start each with a verb.

What good looks like

How the person can tell it was done well. Someone else should be able to check it.

What to watch for

Where this usually goes wrong.

Your how-to

0 steps, 0 words

Your how-to appears here as you answer. Start with the task, or fill in a sample.

What makes a good one-page how-to

The task
Name it as an action, in a few words, so the title reads "How to ...".
The steps
One action each, in order, starting with a verb. If a step needs "and", split it.
What good looks like
A sign anyone could check, such as a number, a name or a time, not "high quality".
What to watch for
The one or two places it usually goes wrong, and what to do then.

Using your how-to

  1. Hand the task to a colleague, or to yourself next quarter.
  2. Paste it into an AI chat and ask it to do the task the same way.
  3. Keep it beside the work and fix it the first time it is wrong.