c2a162d0-858d-4d80-a5e7-9e5c852daa18

[giscus[bot]]

c2a162d0-858d-4d80-a5e7-9e5c852daa18

When reassigning tasks, reply with "Done" and provide a URL link if applicable.

https://www.ssw.com.au/rules/reply-done/

[marinagerber]

The "done rule" methodology makes tracking tasks and communicating feedback quick and painless. Especially for people skimming emails (admit it we all do it) - it gets straight to the point.

[joshbermanssw]

The way we track tasks at SSW, in combination with the 'done rule', means that we can have great insights into which tasks have been completed/ or not with clarity. A great rule for clear email communication 🙌

[suiyangqiu]

Love the rule, especially the alternatives to just "Done" since in many situations, "Done" and "Not Done" aren't enough.

[brookjeynes-ssw]

For general tasks, emails are great and following this rule leads to clear communication about when things are and aren't finished. All development related tasks however, should be added as an issue on the appropriate tracking forum (which may sometimes be email!).

[Pravino24]

The done rule is absolutely necessary for clear communication. I have started using it outside of work 😀

[JackDevAU]

100% agree - Where possible using an appropriate tracking app is the best way to manage and follow tasks

[Pravino24]

The done rule is absolutely necessary for clear communication. I have started using it outside of work 😀

[Calinator444]

I think the main thing that I missed when I originally read this rule is that you can reply to tasks before sending done if the scope of the tasks is large. Some emails can turn into larger peaces of work and can't always be done in the moment without disrupting the goals of your current sprint. Sometimes with larger tasks it's good to reply with a status update and then reply "done" once all of the work is completed.

[jakebayliss]

Great rule - Makes replying to tasks super clear and easy to see what was/wasnt done

[kikibianc]

0 inbox all the way! Even better - use another system to track tasks, like Zendesk :)

[18-th]

This is a good ideology, generally. It helps keep the communication clean for a normal email flow. When replying, if there is a number, then there is a task. That allows you to make it very clear what’s been done and what hasn’t.

[edkranz]

The done rule establishes a clear language of communication, letting the 'task sender' know, without a doubt, that the task has been done. This unified language is very important for high stakes tasks!

[KostaMadorsky]

A great set of rules to take control over your inbox and keep things properly tracked and moving.

[MarcusIrmscherSSW]

great rule, helps keep communication clear and concise.

[RobJT-wq]

This is easily one of my favourite rules at SSW.

In some organisations it can be difficult to track who is responsible to action a task or to even identify a task from a general notice.

[Username-must-be-unique]

This rule makes a lot of sense, especially Tip 8 — I really like the focus on handling things once and avoiding rework.

One thought I had is whether this principle could also be applied to our CTF process. Since submitting the form already represents completion of the task, it might be worth considering whether that action could serve as the “done,” rather than requiring a separate email reply.

That could help reduce double handling while still achieving the same clarity of completion.

[jimmy1992abc]

Replying ‘done’ in emails really does help signal that tasks have been actioned and that the thread is officially closed. It keeps things tidy and clear!

[thomas-sepanosian]

Great rule, I think the most important part is ensuring the task-giver is kept in the loop, and that the status of the task is tracked. If a task and its status live in an email, then this rule helps with clearly communicating whether it is done.

[sylhuang]

Replying "Done" makes it a lot easier for task tracking. The task sender does not need to follow-up periodically just to know if something has been completed.

[AlvinShenSSW]

This rule is great because it cuts out all those useless 'I'll do it' emails. It saves everyone time by only sending an update when the work is actually finished.

[ZenoWang1999]

The done rule allows me to track tasks that haven't been completed yet, and also lets recipients clearly understand my responses to different tasks.

[Berber-Mama]

As an old rule, it's still the best way to avoid confusion.

[LydiaCheng0716]

Providing relevant links and visual results after saying "done" makes communication simpler, more direct, and clearer 😃.

[hveraus]

Great breakdown of how to handle task-based email communication. It's the best way to keep a clean workspace.

[yaqi-lyu]

It makes it a lot easier to update the email when it’s completed, so others know the progress.

[StefStar]

Great rule - This is a game-changer for tracking what’s actually getting done.

[andrewwaltosssw]

There are lots of ways to let someone know a task is complete - IM chat, video call, @mentions, etc. Replying Done is a good way to close off a thread and have a record of completion. Using ✅ and ❌ helps with readability too.

[micsblank]

SSW has a very unique way of managing emails. It's a good way to make sure the loop gets closed and email tasks don't get buried.

[sam-s-maher]

Great rule for creating clear instructions and cutting out ambiguity

[PothieuG]

Good rule, well written.
It's always good to have a unique way of managing tasks in a group or company wide. This prevent any confusion and improve productivity.

[ricksu978]

👍👍👍 This rule improves clarity, reduces unnecessary follow-ups, and makes completed work easier to verify.

[Pam623]

The rule is awesome! Having more choices than just “Done” makes a difference, since those two alone often don’t say enough.

[tino-liu]

Very good rule! This makes keeping track of what's done or not done easy