Protocol
Make the receiver synthesize the handoff
'Any questions?' is a weak test because confusion often has no question prepared.
When it fits
- The sender has delivered several actions, risks or conditions and shared understanding matters.
When to avoid it
- Synthesis verifies shared understanding, not the underlying truth of the plan; wrong information can be repeated accurately.
Why it matters
Ask the receiver to summarize the current state, key actions and important contingency in their own words. Let them ask questions, then correct missing or distorted parts. The synthesis exposes different mental models before work resumes under the wrong one.
Steps
- What is the current state in your words?
- What are your next two actions?
- What condition would make you stop or escalate?
- What remains unclear before you take ownership?
An example
After a migration handoff, the receiver restates which batch is next, which records are excluded and the stop condition for errors.
Check your result
The receiver's summary matches the operational state well enough to continue without hidden assumptions.
Keep this limit in mind
- Synthesis verifies shared understanding, not the underlying truth of the plan; wrong information can be repeated accurately.
Evidence and sources
Supports
AHRQ's I-PASS structure asks the receiver to synthesize what was heard, ask questions and restate key actions.
A fluent summary can still repeat a wrong premise; synthesis verifies shared understanding, not truth.
Tool: I-PASS · Synthesis by Receiver