Reduce Context-Switching with Explicit Handoffs

Every time work moves between people, there's invisible overhead: figuring out what was done, what decisions were made, and what comes next. Explicit handoffs eliminate this waste.

What Makes a Good Handoff

A complete handoff includes:

• Current state: What's been completed
• Context: Why decisions were made
• Next steps: What needs to happen next
• Dependencies: What's blocking progress
• Assets: Where to find relevant files/links

Implementation Tactics

Use Handoff Templates

Create standard formats for common transitions:

Design to Development:

✅ Completed: [list]
🎯 Goal: [objective]
📋 Requirements: [specifications]
🔗 Assets: [Figma links, specs]
⚠️ Edge cases: [known issues]

Development to QA:

✅ Features: [implemented]
🧪 Test scenarios: [focus areas]
📝 Notes: [implementation details]
🚨 Known issues: [if any]
📍 Environment: [staging URL]

Set Handoff Triggers

Define when handoffs happen:

• Code review approval
• Design signoff
• Feature completion
• Bug fix deployment

Make Status Visible

Use tools that show handoff status:

• Jira workflow states
• Slack channel updates
• Project dashboard indicators
• Pull request labels

Measuring Impact

Track these metrics:

• Time from handoff to pickup
• Questions asked after handoff
• Work sent back for clarification
• Overall cycle time

Explicit handoffs feel like overhead initially but quickly pay for themselves in reduced confusion and faster execution.