Comments on: The Importance of Closing Open Loops http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/10/the-importance-of-closing-open-loops/ Thinking beyond productivity Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:54:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Tracking External Dependencies with the Waiting For List http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/10/the-importance-of-closing-open-loops/#comment-1895 Tracking External Dependencies with the Waiting For List Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:50:22 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/?p=458#comment-1895 [...] Follow this blog: RSS | Email ← The Importance of Closing Open Loops [...] [...] Follow this blog: RSS | Email ← The Importance of Closing Open Loops [...]

]]> By: Andre http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/10/the-importance-of-closing-open-loops/#comment-1893 Andre Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:01:16 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/?p=458#comment-1893 <b>@Vered:</b> You pretty much summed up my 1000-word post in a couple of sentences. <b>@Marelisa:</b> Not making a decision on a project can definitely shift the ball to someone else's court by default. The trick is to follow the ball and identify the goal posts. If your boss offers you a project, and you need more time to think about it, it's a good idea to ask yourself -- or better yet, your boss -- "When do I need to answer this by?"; then put that date on your calendar. Identifying and tracking the necessary course of action toward the outcome closes the loop, even though the cycle of action hasn't been completed yet. @Vered: You pretty much summed up my 1000-word post in a couple of sentences.

@Marelisa: Not making a decision on a project can definitely shift the ball to someone else’s court by default. The trick is to follow the ball and identify the goal posts. If your boss offers you a project, and you need more time to think about it, it’s a good idea to ask yourself — or better yet, your boss — “When do I need to answer this by?”; then put that date on your calendar. Identifying and tracking the necessary course of action toward the outcome closes the loop, even though the cycle of action hasn’t been completed yet.

]]> By: Marelisa http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/10/the-importance-of-closing-open-loops/#comment-1890 Marelisa Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:34:46 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/?p=458#comment-1890 Hi Andre: I see your point that if there's a lot of things that you don't make a decision on it's like having unfinished business floating around in your head and creating distractions. I certainly don't advocate not coming to a decision. I think that people who don't make decisions end up having others or even time make decisions for them. For example, if your boss offers to give you an important project and you fail to respond because you can't make up your mind whether you want the responsibility or not, she'll probably just give the project to someone else. So I think you're saying "decide or you'll have a lot of distractions floating around in your head" while I'm saying "if you don't make a decision you're deciding to allow others and time to make the decision for you". Hi Andre: I see your point that if there’s a lot of things that you don’t make a decision on it’s like having unfinished business floating around in your head and creating distractions. I certainly don’t advocate not coming to a decision. I think that people who don’t make decisions end up having others or even time make decisions for them. For example, if your boss offers to give you an important project and you fail to respond because you can’t make up your mind whether you want the responsibility or not, she’ll probably just give the project to someone else. So I think you’re saying “decide or you’ll have a lot of distractions floating around in your head” while I’m saying “if you don’t make a decision you’re deciding to allow others and time to make the decision for you”.

]]> By: Vered - MomGrind http://tools-for-thought.com/2008/09/10/the-importance-of-closing-open-loops/#comment-1884 Vered - MomGrind Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:38:38 +0000 http://tools-for-thought.com/?p=458#comment-1884 I loved Marelisa's article too. :) I do agree with your assertion, though. On a personal level, I always prefer to say or to receive "no" rather than leave questions or requests unanswered. A definite "no" enables you to move on and focus your energy on something else. <abbr>Vered - MomGrind's last blog post: <a href="http://momgrind.com/2008/09/09/nose-shaper-corrects-ill-shaped-noses-without-operation/" rel="nofollow">Almost-Wordless Wednesday: Correct Your Nose Without Operation!</a></abbr> I loved Marelisa’s article too. :)

I do agree with your assertion, though. On a personal level, I always prefer to say or to receive “no” rather than leave questions or requests unanswered. A definite “no” enables you to move on and focus your energy on something else.

Vered – MomGrind’s last blog post: Almost-Wordless Wednesday: Correct Your Nose Without Operation!

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