Sunday, October 14, 2018
When to Share a Draft With the Account Team
Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about an account team that chased me by phone for updates before I had even reached the office, and how I finished my deck early but held it back until minutes before the call to avoid last-minute changes. I have rewritten it into advice on when to share a draft.
After an early call where I was not needed, I was getting ready for the office when the account team rang to ask whether I had arrived. I already had everything I needed from the previous day and planned to start once I reached my desk, but they chased every update. At the office I checked with the delivery expert, understood the expectations within minutes and got to work. I finished well before the deadline, but held the deck back and shared it only a few minutes before the call, because I expected the team to ask for unnecessary changes.
Why do people hold back finished work?
To avoid endless rounds of edits. If a team keeps changing things, sharing late feels like a defence. It often backfires: reviewers have no time to read, questions come up live, and trust drops.
When should you share a draft?
- As soon as it is complete enough to review: with a clear label of what is final and what is not.
- With a deadline for comments: "Comments by 3pm, please; after that I will lock it."
- With a short summary: so reviewers know where to look.
How do you stop unnecessary changes?
Ask for comments in one list, accept those that improve the response, and explain briefly why others are not needed. A comment deadline does more to limit changes than sharing late.
How do you handle a team that chases constantly?
Send a morning note with what you will deliver and when, and a short update when it is done. Chasing usually stops when people can see progress.
What would I do now?
Share the finished deck early with a comment cut-off. It gives the account team confidence and keeps control of the changes.