Capture action items with an explicit decision/action, owner, and date.
A good action item can survive being forwarded. Start with an action verb Use verbs like send, draft, decide, validate, schedule, or approve. Avoid soft verbs like discuss, align, consider, or look into unless the deliverable is also named. Name one accountable owner Contributors can be listed in context, but the action line needs one person who can say whether the item is done, blocked, or no longer needed. Add a date and follow-up surface The date tells the owner when the promise matures. The follow-up surface tells everyone where the update will appear: project channel, next standup, client thread,…
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