The team has different standards for done. How do we align them?
Inconsistent completion expectationsAgree a shared completion standard for comparable work and add item-specific acceptance criteria where needed. Review real examples to ensure the standard is practical and understood.
What to do now
- Compare recent completed items
- Identify missing quality and handoff steps
- Agree a shared completion checklist
- Apply it consistently and improve it from evidence
When to escalate
Escalate when
Inconsistent completion creates material rework or acceptance failure.
Who decides
The team lead and appropriate line manager
Example
A completed feature includes its agreed tests, review, documentation, and usable delivery state.
Mistake to avoid
Using done to mean different things in different reports.
Prevent a repeat
Review whether working agreements improve delivery and raise people concerns through the appropriate channels.
Suggested ApprovedFlow setup
- Tasks
- Resources
- Documents
Make agreed responsibilities and follow-up tasks visible while keeping sensitive people matters in the authorized confidential process. See the platform
Related cases
- Junior staff agree in meetings but struggle afterward. How can we support them?Hidden understanding gap
- How do we rebuild trust after a missed delivery?Trust damaged by unreliable commitments
- The project name means different things to different people. How do we align it?Ambiguous initiative definition
- Our team has a different definition of ready for every item. Is that a problem?Inconsistent work preparation