We’re all constantly juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities, but it’s equally crucial for you to have a system in place for tracking other people’s tasks. Whether at work or in your personal life, you will inevitably depend on others to move forward with your projects at some point. For example, you may be waiting for a colleague to submit a report or for a friend to confirm their attendance at an event you’re organizing. Tracking this may seem small or even redundant, but trust me – it builds up and is critical for staying on top of things.
That’s why it’s important for you to have a system in place for tracking and managing these tasks. One way to do this is by using labels or specific lists in your productivity software. For example, you can add a label that says “waiting” to tasks that are dependent on someone else or park them under a specific list. This will help you see which tasks are still pending and which tasks you need to follow up on. Additionally, if your software supports it, you can add a deadline property to these tasks, generating a prompt for follow-up. This will help ensure that everything is moving forward as planned.
It’s not just about having a system in place, though – it’s also about following through on these tasks and ensuring that commitments made by others are being met. By following up on tasks that are past their deadline, you are showing others that you take commitments seriously and that you value the time and effort of others. This not only commands respect but also helps to create a culture of accountability and responsibility.
Actionable advice for this week: create a ‘Waiting For’ list
List everything you’re waiting for, with deadlines to remind yourself of pending tasks rather than relying on your memory. Do this consistently, and you’ll find that over time, you’ll experience fewer delays as you build a reputation of someone who doesn’t let things fall through the cracks.