Define “Done” Before Work Begins
A vague task invites avoidable revisions. Define its purpose, scope, output, completion criteria and deadline before assigning it.
A Cornerstone collection
Ideas for checking claims, communicating clearly, and bringing sound judgment to purposeful work.
What should I check before I use an AI answer?
Start here
A fluent answer can hide an unchecked assumption. Review the claims, inspect their sources, and decide what evidence would change the conclusion before using it.
Read the featured article
A thoughtful reading sequence
Check the evidence before using a confident answer.
Hand over the information and authority needed to act.
Turn agreement into a clear decision and an owner.
More from this collection
A vague task invites avoidable revisions. Define its purpose, scope, output, completion criteria and deadline before assigning it.
Fixing the source does not reach every copy. Trace who relied on the error, state the correction and check the affected action.
Support is not authorization. Record the actual decision, its owner, its limits and what remains pending.
A dependable person can conceal a weak process. Make recurring rescue work visible and give responsibility a proper home.
Sending information is not the same as transferring responsibility. Make the next action, owner, uncertainty, and escalation route clear.
Rank can make a necessary concern hard to voice. Prepare a specific observation, name the consequence, and use the right escalation channel.
A completed form cannot guarantee that reality was understood. Use checklists to support observation and make unexpected conditions visible.
A fluent answer can hide an unchecked assumption. Review the claims, inspect their sources, and decide what evidence would change the conclusion before using it.
Turn professional experience into a clear guide with a defined task, transparent sources, realistic examples, and a practical review process.