Do you know how to handle duplicate requests?
Sometimes you get the same task from 2 different people. Sometimes even the same person sends over-lapping emails. Sometimes you find duplicated PBIs.
Whether you keep a backlog or are just using your email inbox as a to-do list, you have a choice to make:
A: Get rid of the duplicates and only keep one (you need to spend time informing everyone about the merge)
B: Recommended - Keep them all and when you do it, reply to all the emails with your ‘Done’ OR close each of the PBIs. (Of course it is a good idea to relate those tasks by adding links or the email subjects)
Hi Bob,
Not done yet. Closing this, as it will be done in another email subject: “Form options need refresh” from Jason
❌ Figure: Bad example – This email will never get a ‘done’ when completed
Hi Bob,
Done FYI – This was also requested by Jason under subject: “Form options need refresh” from Jason
Hi Jason,
Done FYI – This was also requested by Bob under subject: “Update the form options”
✅ Figure: Good example – Both emails got a ‘done’ reply and were referenced to each other