Playbooks only help if people use them. Here’s how to make that happen.
Keep them short and scannable
During an incident, nobody reads long docs. Use short steps, bullet points, and clear headings. One main action per step.
Link to runbooks, don’t duplicate
Reference detailed runbooks by link instead of pasting them into the playbook. One source of truth, less drift.
Update after every major incident
After a significant incident, update the playbook with what you learned. Add missing steps, fix wrong ones, note pitfalls.
Practice in drills
Run tabletop or fire-drill exercises so people know where to find playbooks and how to use them. Update based on what felt unclear.
Own them
Assign an owner per playbook or area. They’re responsible for keeping it accurate and reviewed on a schedule.
Playbooks that are short, current, and practiced become part of how your team responds—not shelfware.