Status Updates Playbook

Guidelines for writing team updates that are easy to scan, honest about challenges, and generous with recognition.

Philosophy

• Outcomes first - Lead with results and impact, not activity; tie to goals/OKRs
• Scannable - Emoji-anchored sections, bullet points, short paragraphs
• Quantify - Metrics, deltas, dates, owners—show progress with numbers
• Honest - Acknowledge challenges directly, then reframe with context
• Warm - Credit individuals by name, use inclusive language
• Evidence-backed - Link to production, docs, metrics to show not tell
• Close the loop - Note delta from last update and what's next

Quick Reference