Keeping people informed.
WHAT AN UPDATE IS FOR
Letting others proceed without asking you.
WHAT IT SHOULD CONTAIN
What changed since last time What is on track and what is not What is blocked, and on whom What you need What happens next
WHAT IT SHOULD NOT CONTAIN
Everything you did Justification of your effort
WHY
It is about the work, not about you.
WHAT TO LEAD WITH
Anything that is not on track.
WHY
It is what the reader needs to act on.
WHAT TO AVOID
Reporting green until the week it fails.
WHY THAT HAPPENS
Reporting problems feels like admitting failure.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
That early warning is valued.
WHAT CADENCE TO USE
Regular and predictable.
WHY PREDICTABLE
It replaces people asking.
HOW LONG
Short enough to be read every time.
WHAT FORMAT HELPS
The same structure each time.
WHY
Readers learn where to look.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT BLOCKED ITEMS
Name the person or decision blocking, without accusation.
WHY NAME
Unattributed blockage is never resolved.
WHAT TO END WITH
The single most important thing for the reader.
