Status update template: the 6-line update that buys you trust

Most junior employees fail in one of two ways:

1. they disappear into work and reappear at the deadline, or
2. they over-communicate in a way that feels anxious (“just checking in… circling back…”) and still doesn’t create clarity.

The fix is a simple, consistent status update that signals reliability.

The moment status updates prevent

At some point you’ll be in a meeting where someone senior asks:

“Are we on track for next Friday?”

If the only honest answer is “I’m not sure,” you’re already in trouble.

Not because things are hard (they are), but because uncertainty spreads:

• your manager can’t help
• stakeholders can’t plan
• deadlines become guesses

A good written update turns “not sure” into a calm snapshot of reality.

What you’ll get

• a copy/paste 6-line status update you can use in Slack or email
• the rules that make it actually useful (not noise)
• examples for “on track” and “we’re behind”

Why people argue about this

The internet debates status updates like they’re either micromanagement or basic professionalism. The truth is: bad updates feel like surveillance; good updates feel like trust. Ask a Manager has a good example of “too many updates” and what’s actually useful (https://www.askamanager.org/2019/05/my-employee-gives-me-too-many-status-updates-staff-asked-me-to-fudge-their-sick-leave-and-more.html).

What a status update is (and isn’t)

A status update is not:

• a diary of everything you did,
• a long explanation of why things are hard,
• or a performance review.

A status update is:

• a quick snapshot of progress,
• what happens next,
• where risk exists,
• and what you need from other people.

If your manager can read it on their phone in 30 seconds and understand reality, you did it right.

Copy/paste status update (weekly)

Subject: Weekly status — [Project Name]

• Progress: …
• Next: …
• Risks: …
• Decisions needed: …
• Asks (if any): …
• ETA / next milestone: …

That’s it.

If you send this every week (or every Monday/Thursday, depending on the pace), you become the person who never surprises anyone.

The rules (so it actually works)

Rule 1) Keep it short enough to read on a phone

If you need paragraphs, you probably need a separate doc.

Your update should feel like a dashboard, not a novel.

Rule 2) Always include Risks (even if the risk is “none”)

People don’t fear bad news. They fear late bad news.

A good “Risks” line can be as simple as:

• “None this week.”
• “Waiting on access to X; if it’s not resolved by Wednesday, ETA slips 2 days.”

Notice the structure: risk → condition → impact.

Rule 3) If you need a decision, propose a recommendation

Bad:

• “What do you think we should do?”

Better:

• “Decision needed: A vs B. I recommend A because ___. Unless I hear otherwise by EOD Tuesday, I’ll proceed with A.”

That last sentence is powerful when used responsibly. It turns ambiguity into motion.

Rule 4) Separate “status” from “story”

If something is complicated, put the complicated part behind a link:

• “Details: [doc link]”

Your status update is the headline. The doc is the article.

Rule 5) If something slips, say it early — not when it’s already late

Template:

• “ETA update: was Friday, now Tuesday due to ___. Mitigation: ___. Risk: ___. Ask: __.”

Aim for calm, factual, accountable.

Rule 6) Match the audience

Same format, different emphasis:

• Manager: clarity, risks, decisions, tradeoffs.
• Stakeholders: milestones, impact, what’s changing.
• Cross-functional partners: explicit asks + dates.

If you’re unsure what’s useful, ask:

“What cadence and level of detail is most helpful for you?”

A filled-in example (healthy project)

Subject: Weekly status — Onboarding email flow

• Progress: Drafted email copy + implemented tracking events in staging.
• Next: QA with test accounts; ship to 10% cohort.
• Risks: Legal review may delay launch; if feedback isn’t back by Thu, ship moves to Tue.
• Decisions needed: Confirm whether we prioritize “welcome” email vs “tips” email for v1. I recommend welcome-first.
• Asks (if any): @Priya — can you introduce me to Legal POC for faster turnaround?
• ETA / next milestone: 10% cohort live Friday EOD (pending legal).

This isn’t flashy. It’s credible.

A second example (when you’re behind)

When you’re behind, your goal is to remove uncertainty.

Subject: Status — [Project] — ETA update

• Progress: Completed A + B. C is 70%.
• Next: Finish C; start QA.
• Risks: Main risk is still X. If X happens, we slip another 1–2 days.
• Decisions needed: Confirm whether we cut scope item D to protect the date. I recommend cutting D.
• Asks: Need access to ___ (owner: ___). If I don’t have it by tomorrow, I can’t hit the new ETA.
• ETA / next milestone: Was: Fri. Now: Tue EOD.

Notice what’s not in there: excuses.

Common anti-patterns (avoid these)

• The vague update: “Making good progress.” (Progress on what?)
• The hidden risk: you leave risks blank, then get “surprise!” later.
• The status dump: 20 bullets of tasks with no signal.
• The timid ask: you need a decision but you don’t name it.

Two quick reminders, depending on your role:

• Early-career: status updates aren’t you “asking for permission.” They’re you proving you can be trusted with bigger work.
• Manager: the best updates reduce your cognitive load. If you’re not getting that, show the team a good example and say, “copy this format.”

Edge cases

• If you’re in a fast-moving incident/on-call world, your “status update” might be hourly — but the structure stays the same.
• If you don’t have a clear project yet, do a weekly “ramp update” (what I learned, what I shipped, what I need next).

Next step

Send your first 6-line status update this Friday (even if your “Progress” is mostly learning).

Then use it to drive decisions in your next 1:1: Manager 1:1 agenda.