Workflows
How to Track Open Loops in Gmail
Your task manager tracks assignments. Your inbox holds everything else.
Open loops are not tasks. They are conversations with implicit next steps: a promise to send something, an intro waiting to be closed, a prospect who said "let me check" and never followed up, a partner thread that stalled.
The open-loop problemYour task manager knows about the work someone assigned to you. It does not know about the promises, follow-ups, and timing windows living in Gmail.
Types of open loops in Gmail
| Type | Example | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Promises | "I will send the proposal by Friday." | Missed deadline damages trust. |
| Follow-ups | "Let me circle back next week." | No system tracks the circle-back. |
| Intros | "Happy to make the introduction." | Intro sits unresolved; both sides wonder. |
| Pricing asks | "Can you send over pricing?" | Delayed reply can cool the deal. |
| Status updates | "Just checking in on X." | Sent but no reply — is it received? |
How to track open loops
- Identify your open-loop types: which kinds of implicit commitments appear most in your inbox.
- Scan for thread state: waiting on you, waiting on them, changed, stalled.
- Use a continuity layer: Sidekick Log automatically surfaces Gmail open loops based on conversation momentum.
- Review open loops before Friday: catch anything that needs action before the weekend.
Why Gmail alone is not enough
Gmail stars, labels, and snoozes only track threads you remembered to flag. The expensive open loops are the ones you forgot existed. Sidekick Log surfaces them based on relationship momentum signals, not manual flagging.