Practical guide

Unblock work that is waiting for client material

Last materially reviewed 2026-09-19

Quick answerName the missing input, its owner and the effect on delivery instead of leaving the request vaguely in progress.
What to know

Troubleshooting: identify the smallest missing input

A request can contain many uploaded files and still lack the one fact needed to proceed. Specify what is missing: approved copy, a usable logo, product dimensions or a decision between two options. Avoid asking the client to “send everything again.” Check the original brief and attached material first. The useful question is what prevents the next action, not whether every optional field in the form has been completed.

What to know

Explain the effect on the work

A concise update might say: “The layout is ready for the approved headline; without it we cannot finish the final export.” That connects the request for information to an outcome the customer understands. Do not silently move the deadline while leaving the client-facing status unchanged. If other work can proceed safely, identify it; if not, record the block rather than filling time with changes that may be discarded later.

What to know

Assign the next action

Give the missing input an owner and agree the next check-in where appropriate. A reminder without a responsible recipient can circulate indefinitely. Keep follow-up attached to the existing request so the client sees the context. If the service permits another queued item to advance, explain the resulting sequence. Do not recreate the blocked job merely to remove it from the active count or conceal the length of the delay.

What to know

Improve the next brief

After resolving the block, ask whether the request form could have prompted for the input at the right time. ManyRequests supports customizable forms and conditional fields, but adding every possible field can make intake harder. Add a clear prompt only where the information is genuinely needed. Keep examples and labels understandable. The aim is fewer avoidable delays, not an intimidating form that shifts all planning work onto the customer.

Continue when useful

Next: A request brief that lets the producer actually start

Ask for the objective, output, source material, constraints and approver—then define when the brief is complete.

Open A request brief that lets the producer actually start →

Sources used for this page

These records support the facts and comparisons above. Merchant-controlled records are labelled so you can separate product claims from independent evidence.

  1. ManyRequests managing requests and exporting data — Merchant documentation · help.manyrequests.com · Merchant-controlled · checked 2026-09-19
  2. ManyRequests service request forms — Merchant documentation · help.manyrequests.com · Merchant-controlled · checked 2026-09-19