Yesterday’s list showed what is on your plate. Today, give each item a place that shows its current state. Start with three columns and Use a wall, a whiteboard or a digital tool you already know.
- To Do
- In Progress
- Done
Define the beginning and end
For our quote-preparation example, work starts when someone begins preparing the quote. It finishes when the quote has been checked and sent. Customer acceptance comes later. Keeping it outside this first workflow makes the boundary clear. Place each card where the work actually stands. A quote that is drafted but still needs checking belongs in In Progress. If someone has started a quote and is waiting for supplier pricing, that also belongs in In Progress. Waiting does not make it unstarted.
Keep the board useful
Give each active card a named owner responsible for keeping its status current. That person does not have to do every step. Update cards when the work changes. A board that only gets updated before a meeting soon becomes difficult to trust. Try it today: Place the cards from Lesson 1 in the three columns. Check whether another person could understand the board without asking you to explain every item. Clarify any vague descriptions.
Term of the day — Workflow: The stages work moves through between a defined starting point and finishing point.
Next lesson: Decide how much work should be in progress at once.