How do I present a Project Update?

Your project success relies on you communicating project status. Use these tips and templates to help

How do I present a Project Update?

1. Keep your update short – aim for 5 minutes or less.
2. If you have project objectives, compare progress with these objectives.
3. Provide a 1-page document so that people can take away the key messages.
4. Provide easy-to-understand status indicators – “Red / Amber / Green” (RAG) status for each update item.

Project Update in more detail

Project updates are a crucial part of project and product management.

Keep your update short – aim for 5 minutes or less.
1. Provide some introductory context – remember that everyone’s mind is elsewhere.
2. Avoid going into detail – just give the headlines!
3. If there are any issues, provide some suggested solutions.
If you have project objectives, compare progress with these objectives.
1. Show this side-by-side: Targets vs Actual Progress.
2. RAG Status is a good way of highlighting good and bad progress.
3. If you bear bad news, it always pays to have some suggested solutions.
Provide a 1-page document so that people can take away the key messages.
1. Once again – keep it simple.
2. Use a Status Report or Dashboard template (see below).
Provide easy-to-understand status indicators – “Red / Amber / Green” RAG status for each update item.
1. RAG Status: this can be achieved with traffic lights, or dials, or just simply the Red, Amber, Green colours.
2. Dials: While it may seem a bit of a gimmick, dials can be very popular with corporate stakeholders.