Which practice helps build reliability in your schedule over time?

• A. Increasing meeting frequency
• B. Eliminating buffers entirely
• C. Tracking actual vs planned durations
• D. Maximizing tasks without regard to energy

Answer: (C)

Tracking actual versus planned durations builds reliability in your schedule by creating a feedback loop that informs future estimates. When you compare what you planned to how long things actually take, you learn where you consistently over- or under-estimate. That knowledge lets you adjust task estimates, add the right buffers, and plan with more realistic timelines, so your future schedules are more likely to stay on track. Other practices undermine reliability: more meetings break focus and steal time, removing buffers eliminates the safety net that absorbs delays, and trying to pack in more tasks without considering energy leads to fatigue and worse estimates. With this monitoring habit, your planning improves over time, and your schedule becomes steadier.