Hi there,
Wouldn’t it be great if everyone could read your mind?
It’s 2026 and we’re still not there yet.
So lead with your deadline first.
⚡ Supercharge of the Week
Remote Octopus recommends always sharing your target deadline and its context when reaching out to a cross-functional stakeholder with a request.
Including this detail is key to a smooth and on-time delivery of your request.
Why? When a colleague sees a request paired with a deadline, they are able to quickly evaluate viability based on their work.
Without a deadline, your request kicks off a series of back-and-forth messages. Instead of working on what you asked, your colleague spends time trying to read your mind.
Always lead with your deadline.
EXAMPLE IN ACTION
Hi Kai – Can you revise slide 6 by Thursday at 5 pm PT? Prepping for our next team call.
Including the target time & time zone ensures remote colleagues are on the same page.
Did a colleague reach out with a request and it’s missing a target deadline? Work with them to quickly identify it. See examples in action here.
