Kanban for translators: jobs, queries and client approvals on one board
Freelance translators often have several jobs running at once for different clients and agencies, each with its own deadline, style guide and terminology. The translation itself is yours. The things that cause delays usually are not: a client who has not answered a terminology query, a missing reference file, an approval that has not come back, an invoice that has not been paid.
A 2D board shows each job and what it is waiting on.
One row per job
Name each row with the client and deadline: "Agency A, legal contract, due Thu". Keep rows sorted by deadline.
Columns for who has the ball
- Mine: translation, review, formatting, delivery.
- Other: client queries awaiting answers, reference files requested, approvals, payment.
- Next: queued work, such as a second phase or a follow-up revision.
- Done: delivered and paid.
Queries are the classic Other item. You send a question about a term, carry on, and three days later realise nobody answered. In Axtio, actions in Other show how long they have been waiting and turn red after a week, so you can chase before the deadline. See why waiting feels worse.
Keep queries as separate actions
Each open question gets its own action in Other: "Client: confirm term for 'warranty deed'". When answered, move it to Done. You will never deliver a job with an unanswered query hiding in an email thread.
Watch your capacity
Translators often accept work until the week is impossible. Count the actions in Mine with this week's deadlines. If it is more than you can do, push back now, not on the due date. See personal WIP limits.
Invoices belong on the board too
A job is not finished until it is paid. Keep "invoice sent" in Mine and "payment" in Other, and you will see unpaid jobs at a glance. For the wider freelance workflow, see Kanban for freelancers and the freelancer contract workflow.
Keep client text private
Translation often involves confidential documents. Keep board actions short and generic, and keep the content itself in your translation tools. Axtio's free mode stores data locally in your browser, which suits sensitive work.