Working with others
Say when they'll hear back
A micro habit for turning a quick yes into a time people can plan around
When you take something on, add when they'll hear back from you, and then make that time.
- 5 minutes
- You and whoever asked
- Every time you say yes
- Quick
Why this can work
A when turns “on it” into something the other person can plan around. Without one, they're left guessing, and guessing tends to turn into checking in, then into worry. Naming a time also makes you look at your own week before you promise, which is where a lot of overcommitment gets caught.
Read moreHow to set expectations when you take on a task
You’ll come away with one open request with a real time attached, and the habit of adding one.
- Find one open “on it”.
Scroll back through the last week of messages. Look for something you said yes to without saying when. There's usually at least one.
- Check your week before you name a time.
Look at what's already on your plate and pick a time you can actually keep. It doesn't have to be when it's finished, only when they'll next hear from you.
Tip: A first version, a status, or a yes-or-no all count. The point is a time, not a promise of perfection.
- Send the when.
Short is fine. You're answering the question they would have asked next.
You“Quick update on this: you'll have a first version from me Thursday afternoon.” - Say the when as you take the next thing on.
The habit is one extra clause, said at the moment you say yes.
You“On it. I'll have a first version to you by Thursday.” - Hit the time, or reset it before it passes.
If Thursday isn't going to happen, say so on Wednesday. A time you reset early still does its job.
Good times to repeat it: whenever you say yes to somethingfor anything that'll take longer than a daywhen you spot an open request with no time on it
Making it work for you
Every workplace is different. Here’s what to think about before you start, and what might get in the way.
Things to think about
For bigger work, promise when they'll next hear from you: a draft, a status, a question. It's easier to keep, and it still ends the guessing.
What might make this harder
Give a time for the next update instead: I'll know more by Wednesday and tell you then.
Questions people ask
How should I respond when my boss asks me to do something?
Confirm you've got it and say when they'll hear back: a first version, a status, or the finished piece. A specific time tells them they can stop tracking it.
What's a more professional way to say “on it”?
Keep it short and add a time: on it, you'll have a draft Thursday. It answers the question they would otherwise ask next.
How do I stop people chasing me for updates?
Tell them when the next update is coming before they have to ask, and send it on time. Most chasing comes from not knowing when to expect something.
Why this works, and where it comes from
“On it” does one job well: it tells someone you heard. What it leaves out is the thing they're actually wondering, which is when. Without a when, the other person has to keep your task in their head, because they don't know when they can stop tracking it. So they check in, or worry, or quietly plan around the worst case. A lot of follow-up messages come from that gap.
Adding a time changes what the other person carries. Now they know when to look for it, what to tell their own manager, and what to do in the meantime. It changes something for you as well. You can't name a day without glancing at your week, and that glance is where you notice the three other things you've already promised for Thursday. The habit catches overcommitment at the point where it's cheapest to fix, before you've said yes.
The when doesn't need to be the finish. For anything big or uncertain, promise the next checkpoint instead: a rough draft, a status, a first answer. A small promise you keep builds more trust than a big one you might not. And if the time comes and you're not there yet, a short note before it passes keeps the whole thing honest.
The habit itself is small: one clause, said at the moment you take something on. Over a few weeks, the people around you learn that your yes comes with a time, and that your times hold. That's usually what people mean when they call someone reliable.
Other simple things to consider
What to do next
More in Working with others
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An exercise written by Truest, based on our experience. Last updated September 25, 2026. We sell a career membership; where that’s relevant above, we say so.