Capturing action items not only helps you stay organized, but can also help you stay more focused and productive. Putting actions down in writing frees up your mind to focus on other things, rather than trying to remember all the tasks you need to do. So, whether they are action items from meetings, inbound emails, or just random things that pop into your head, make sure you take note of them to free up your mental “RAM.”
Action Item Basics
As you capture action items, make a habit of capturing not only the action item itself, but also who is responsible for doing it and when it will be done. Always be that project manager who insists on putting someone’s name by each task and getting the assigned person to commit to a date for completion or an update.
TIP: Put names and committed dates on every action item!
