Stop chasing people by tracking every handoff once

Arun ran product launches and felt like a babysitter. He kept mental tabs on designers, vendors, and legal, and every delay landed on his desk as a surprise. He created a single Waiting For list and dated each handoff: “WF – contract redline from legal (sent 4/2, due 4/6).” During one weekly review, he caught two items that would have gone cold and sent a friendly nudge. The tone was factual—“checking on the redline we requested on 4/2 for 4/6”—not anxious.

He also changed how he delegated. Instead of vague asks, he wrote outcome, due date, and next step in a short message: “Goal: final contract ready by Friday. Can you redline section 3 by Wednesday? First step is confirming clause 3.2.” Things sped up because people knew what “done” meant and where to begin. Small win, big effect.

At home, a similar shift: “WF – school nurse reply about allergy form (emailed 5/1).” That entry stopped the background worry loop. A micro‑anecdote: on Thursday, the list reminded him to call the nurse’s office between 8 and 9 a.m., and the form was handled before work.

The payoff wasn’t just fewer surprises. Arun’s mood changed. The list turned ‘chasing’ into simple, dated follow‑ups. His colleagues felt respected instead of hounded, and he felt in control instead of reactive.

This practice leans on externalizing prospective memory—the brain’s system for remembering to remember—and builds a clean audit trail that makes social coordination easier. By date‑stamping and reviewing on a rhythm, you offload worry and keep momentum without stress.

Set up a single Waiting For list and drop in every handoff you care about, then date‑stamp each one and include any promised due date. When you delegate, define the outcome, due date, and next step in a short message so there’s no guessing. Review the list during your weekly review and before key meetings, nudging politely and logging the follow‑up date when you do. Try it with three current handoffs today and feel the mental pressure slip. Start the list now.