Protocol
Put owner, output and deadline on the same line
An action is not complete until someone can point to who delivers what by when.
When it fits
- Action items are scattered across prose and ownership is implied.
When to avoid it
- Shared work can have multiple contributors; the named owner is for coordination, not blame.
Why it matters
Write each meaningful action as one unit containing owner, observable output and timing. If the deadline is conditional, name the condition. Avoid assigning an action to a group when only one person can close it.
Steps
- Every action has one accountable owner and an observable done state.
An example
'Anna → confirm transport import result by 16:00' is harder to misread than 'we should check the import later.'
Check your result
Every action has one accountable owner and an observable done state.
Keep this limit in mind
- Shared work can have multiple contributors; the named owner is for coordination, not blame.
Evidence and sources
CDC clear-communication guidance recommends one obvious main message, placing it early and including a clear action for the audience.
Complex work can require several actions, but the communication still benefits from a dominant purpose.
Description and Examples of Index Items · Core items 1, 2 and 5
CDC guidance recommends active voice and familiar audience language, with technical terms explained where needed.
Technical precision should not be removed when it is necessary for the task.
Description and Examples of Index Items · Core items 6 and 7