status-report

Overview

A consulting status report has one primary job: give the client the information they need to make decisions and take action, without making them read everything. The audience is a busy executive or sponsor. They want to know: are we on track, what got done, what is stuck, and what do they need to decide. The structure must be immediately scannable - RAG status visible in 5 seconds, blockers visible in 10, detail available for those who want it.

The fatal mistake: reports that describe activity without surfacing risk. A Green status with no blockers on a troubled engagement is worse than an Amber status with a clear ask.

Workflow

Step 1: Determine the Audience Tier

Different audiences need different depth. Before drafting, identify who reads this report:

Executive sponsor (C-suite or VP): Wants RAG, top 2 accomplishments, top 2 risks, 1 decision needed. Max 1 page.

Project owner / day-to-day client lead: Wants all of the above plus detail on blockers, workstream status, upcoming deliverables. Max 2 pages.

Steering committee / program office: Wants metrics, milestone status, dependency flags, financial summary. Structured table format.

Write once, format for the tier. If multiple audiences receive the same report, structure the top half for executives and put detail below.