Dedicated to my good friend, Ferdinand Roses (the name has been changed but it’s a real person that inspired this blog.)
We all know that one person (or perhaps many!) —the “Just Making Sure” colleague. You send them a calendar invite with the time, the link, and the agenda. They accept it. They confirm it. Everything looks good.
Then, the messages start rolling in:
“Hey, just making sure we’re still on for tomorrow?”
“The invite says 3 PM. That’s 3 PM your time, right?”
“Just checking—same link as in the invite, correct?”
“Oh, and we ARE still discussing the agenda you sent, right?”
Yes. Yes. YES! That’s the whole point of a calendar invite!
Why Do People Do This?
On their end, they think they’re being responsible—avoiding a mix-up, showing commitment, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
But on your end? It’s a slow descent into madness.
Calendar invites exist for a reason. They confirm the time, date, agenda, and location.
If anything changes, you’ll update them. That’s literally how scheduling works.
Constant reconfirmation doesn’t add certainty—it adds stress. Instead of trusting the process, they create more work for everyone.
Why This Drives You Insane
It Breaks Focus – Instead of moving on to the next task, you’re stuck repeating what’s already documented.
It’s Completely Unnecessary – If the invite has been accepted and the agenda sent, why is this still a conversation?
It Wastes Time – Imagine if every person in your meeting did this. You’d spend more time confirming the meeting than actually having it.
It Feels Like They Don’t Trust You – Did they think you’d mysteriously change the time and not tell them?
How to Stop the Madness
If you have a repeat offender who does this before every meeting, try these strategies:
Preemptive Strike – Send an email: “The invite is correct, the agenda is set, and if anything changes, I’ll let you know!”
Redirect Their Energy – “If you’re looking for ways to prepare, focus on the agenda points. Everything else is already in the invite!”
Humor Them (But Set Boundaries) – “Yes, we’re still on for 3 PM. If I change my mind, I promise to let you know before you show up talking to an empty Zoom room!”
Subtle Hint in Your Signature – Add a line: “If you’ve received an invite from me, it’s confirmed unless otherwise stated.”
Trust the Calendar!
Confirming a meeting once is fine. Even twice, if there’s a history of scheduling issues. But when you start triple-confirming something already documented, you’re not adding clarity—you’re adding chaos.
So, to all the “Just Making Sure” people out there: Relax. Trust the invite. Trust your colleagues. We got this.
Have a serial reconfirmer in your life? Drop your horror stories in the comments!
