“People don’t do what you expect. They do what you inspect.”

– Lou Gerstner, the man who saved IBM

Of all the tools in a manager’s toolkit, there’s one that’s rarely talked about. Yet it consistently separates great leaders from average ones: follow-up.

Early in my career, during a job interview with one of Sri Lanka’s most successful entrepreneurs, I learned this lesson the hard way. He said plainly, “If you don’t follow up, you can’t lead.” That insight stayed with me.

Later, I had the privilege of working for someone famously known as the “King of Follow-up.” Here’s how he operated:

He’d ask me when I could complete a project. The moment I gave him a date, he’d flip through his diary and write it down. But he wouldn’t stop there. He’d also mark the day before the deadline – with a note to call me.

Sure enough, I’d get a call the day before:

“Just a reminder. Your deliverable is due tomorrow.”

And at exactly 8:00 AM the next day:

“Good morning. It’s due today.”

Relentless? Maybe.

Effective? Absolutely.

The Truth About Follow-Up

You can’t follow up on everything. That would be micromanagement. But for the tasks that truly matter, strong follow-up is non-negotiable.

It’s not about nagging. It’s about ownership, clarity, and accountability. And when you model that discipline, your team rises to meet it.

Never End a Meeting Without This

Whether it’s a large team session or a casual one-on-one, no meeting should end without clear next steps: written, time-bound, and owned. That’s how real progress happens.

Want to Succeed as a Manager?

Be the one who remembers. Be the one who checks in. Be the one who follows through.

In short, be the Follow-Up King.