Close the Loop
Updated: Oct 25
The Quietest Way to Lose Trust
Early in my career, I learned that silence is rarely neutral. When someone sends a file, answers a request, or finishes a task and hears nothing back, they start to wonder. Did it arrive? Was it okay? Should I follow up? The silence gets very loud.
That’s why I’m a believer in a simple habit I call closing the loop: a thumbs up, a “got it,” or a “done” when the work is complete. It takes about five seconds, and the payoff is outsized.
Why it Matters More than Ever
Our attention is under constant pressure. Gloria Mark’s research on digital work found that people now stay on a single screen for under a minute on average, and that it can take over 20 minutes to fully return to a task after an interruption. (You may have seen the “adults have an 8-second attention span” claim. It’s a myth, but the real research is arguably more sobering.)
An unclosed loop stays in the mind as unfinished business. A quick “got it” releases that mental load for the sender and the receiver. And in the association world, where we work with volunteers who give their time on top of full-time jobs, feeling seen is often the only payment they get.
What it Looks Like
“Got it, thank you!”
“Received. I’ll review by Thursday.”
“Done. The final is in the shared folder.”
“Approved. Go ahead.”
👍 (yes, it counts)
“Not able to get to this until Monday, but it’s on my list.”
That last one matters too. Closing the loop isn’t only about finishing; it’s about acknowledging, even when the answer is “not yet.”
Closing the Loop is How We #BLevelUp
At Barcami Lane we started using #BLevelUp to track show how we think and act intentionally about our business relationships. Closing the loop might be the most practical way to put that into action.
Intentional relationships aren’t built only in big moments like annual meetings, strategic plans, or renewal conversations. They’re built in the small, repeated ones: the reply that confirms a file arrived, the “done” that tells a volunteer their work mattered, the “not yet, but I’m on it” that keeps a client from wondering.
Each of those moments is a choice. We can leave people guessing, or we can show them, on purpose, that they’re seen. At Barcami Lane, we’re choosing the second option.
Try This Week
Acknowledge every request within one business day, even if it’s just “received.”
When you finish something, say so. Don’t assume they’ll notice.
Close the loop with volunteers first. They’re the ones with no obligation to wait around.
If you’re the sender, be specific: “No reply needed” is a gift.
Intentional relationships are built one small acknowledgment at a time. Close the loop. #BLevelUp
— Tracy Schorle
