Don’t assume that, if your manager hasn’t asked for an update, everything is fine. Doing this puts you at risk of your manager guessing about your progress. An update isn’t something to hold on to until someone asks for it. It’s giving someone current information when you have it.
Own your workflow. Instead of waiting for a formal check-in, get into the habit of sending brief, bulleted updates on your key projects. A simple message covering what’s finished, what’s in progress, and where you might need direction helps eliminate guesswork for your manager. This shows your professional work ethic and that you’re in full command of your responsibilities.
Being proactive also means having the communication skills to flag roadblocks before they become crises. If you see a deadline getting tight or a technical issue brewing, don’t wait until the last minute to speak up. When you report a challenge, try to include a proposed workaround—even if it’s just a rough idea. This shows you won’t let things fall through the cracks.
Put these approaches into practice.
Let’s look at practical ways to share progress updates, control your workflow, and flag potential problems before they become big issues.
“I used to wait until the end of the week to share my progress. This seemed to stress out my manager, so I started sending a mid-week update—three bullets on what was done and what was next. He told me later that those 30-second reads allowed him to stop worrying about my projects entirely.”
DON’T hold on to information until a formal check-in or until your manager explicitly asks for it.
DO get into the habit of sending brief, bulleted updates as soon as key milestones are reached or shifted.
“I was swamped with three different projects and assumed my boss knew I was at my limit. Instead, he gave me a fourth. I realized I hadn't updated him on the complexity of the first three. Now, I keep a shared ' document so he can see my work load at a glance. This prevents me from being overloaded and him from being surprised.”
DON’T assume your manager knows your current capacity or project status just because you’re working hard.
DO provide current information to eliminate guesswork, showing you’re in full command of your workflow.
“I saw a vendor delay coming two weeks out but was afraid to admit to a problem. When I finally spoke up on the day of the deadline, it was a disaster. The next time, I flagged a potential delay the moment I felt it. My manager thanked me for the heads up and we adjusted the timeline without any stress.”
DON’T wait until an issue or a tight deadline becomes a crisis before speaking up.
DO use your communication skills to flag yellow flags early, giving the team time to pivot.
“I used to go to my lead and say, 'This software isn't working.' It made me feel like a complainer. I shifted to: 'The software is glitching; I’ve looked into two alternatives, or we could manually process this for one day. Which do you prefer?' I stopped being a source of problems and became a source of solutions.”
DON’T simply report a challenge or a roadblock and wait for someone else to fix it for you.
DO include a proposed workaround—even if it’s just a rough idea—whenever you report a challenge.
“I used to write paragraphs explaining my day. My manager rarely replied. I switched to a format that includes three bold headers. She started replying 'Great, proceed' within minutes. I realized that clear formatting isn't just about being organized—it’s about respecting my manager's time.”
DON’T send long, narrative emails that require heavy reading to find the “point” of the update.
DO use brief, bulleted lists covering Finished, In Progress, and Need Direction for maximum clarity.
What’s one project you can provide a “status pulse” on to save your manager a follow-up email?
Integrate these professional strategies into your workflow—whether you’re refining your own work or mentoring your team or clients.