LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATION
A clearer handoff starts before the conversation ends.
Put the action, owner, and timing somewhere the team can use.
Name the action
“Follow up” leaves room for different interpretations. Say what needs to be checked, who needs the update, and what a completed task will look like.
Confirm ownership and timing
Ask who is taking the next step and when it will be reviewed. If there is a dependency or an unknown answer, name it rather than hiding it behind confidence.
Close the loop
Keep a shared note the team can find. Have the next person summarize what they will do. Review the process when a handoff fails; the goal is to learn where information was lost.