"Done" means different things to different people. Write it down.
Direct answer
A definition of done is a checklist that says what must be true before work is finished, such as reviewed, tested, documented and approved. It removes arguments about quality and avoids hidden unfinished work.
Examples
Report: proofread, figures checked, reviewed by a colleague, sent in the agreed format.
Software feature: code reviewed, tests passing, documentation updated, deployed to staging.
Marketing campaign: copy approved, links tested, tracking set up, scheduled.
How to write one
- Ask what mistakes have slipped through before.
- List the checks that would have caught them.
- Keep it short, ten items at most.
- Agree as a team.
- Review it regularly.
Where Teyro fits
Teyro's How to Set Clear Expectations course turns this into short lessons you can play in a few minutes a day. It has 50 lessons, and you can start free.
The bottom line
Clear finish lines make it easier to finish well.
