Ask HN: How do you track commitments you make to other people in conversation?
Not a to-do list — specifically the verbal kind. "I'll get back to you", "I'll send that over", "I'll make that intro." These don't make it into any system I've tried. Curious how people handle this.
5 comments
Any time I have a work-related verbal discussion, I follow it up with an email that both explains what I took away from that discussion and describes any commitments made by anyone participating in the conversation.
I developed this habit decades ago, originally as a butt-covering exercise (having a written record of what I think was said can be very useful). However, the real value wasn't that at all -- instead, it was clarity. I can't even begin to count the number of times that a misunderstanding was discovered by doing this.
As a bonus, it helps me keep track of what I've promised to whom.
I developed this habit decades ago, originally as a butt-covering exercise (having a written record of what I think was said can be very useful). However, the real value wasn't that at all -- instead, it was clarity. I can't even begin to count the number of times that a misunderstanding was discovered by doing this.
As a bonus, it helps me keep track of what I've promised to whom.
Improve your memory if you don't want to write things down. Immediately draft emails for commitments you made.
I send them a chat message right then and there with the commitment I’m making as a shared TODO. I then have time blocked off to review from chats if there is anything I haven’t followed up on.
I have a shortcut to email myself. I do it on the spot.
> These don't make it into any system I've tried
Put them into the systems you try.
Put them into the systems you try.