When submitting any document for review (such as a design, invoice for payment, report, etc.), specify the date a response is due (perhaps 10 business days).
For contractual related items (such as invoices or drawing reviews for construction) make sure this is in both the initial contract and also accompanying the transmittal as a reminder.
Failure to do this can leave the due date open, and may mean that the recipient will not respond in the time that you require, which can lead to delays in the project.
By including the due date of any deliverable requested you make expectations clear, which allows team members, clients, suppliers and any other stakeholders to have a clear understanding of what is expected of them.
Clear expectations lead to less confusion, and a higher likelihood that your project will be delivered on time, on budget and to the satisfaction of the client.
