Give a useful progress update

“I’m working on it” may be true, but it gives little information. A helpful update lets someone understand the current state of the work.

Use three parts

Done: “I’ve checked the first two sections of the report.”

Next: “I’ll review the figures this afternoon.”

Help needed: “I need the latest sales totals before I can finish.”

You do not need a problem in every update. If there is no issue, describe the next step and your expected completion time.

Choose accurate status words

Complete means finished. In progress means being worked on. Waiting for identifies a dependency: “The report is waiting for a final review.”

Avoid saying a task is complete if it still needs essential checks. “The draft is complete; the review is pending” is more precise.

Separate a plan from a promise

“I expect to finish by Thursday” states an estimate. If the timing depends on another person, say so: “I can finish by Thursday if I receive the figures today.”

Your turn

Write an update for a presentation: the slides are drafted, the charts need checking, and you need a colleague’s figures.

See a possible answer

“The slide draft is complete. I'll check the charts next. Could you send me the final figures so I can confirm that the charts are accurate?”