Making reports for the boss is an important component of any project. This may be your task if you’re a project manager or a subordinate. Either way, the status report will weigh-in to the support your project gets from your boss.
Your Job Is To Present a Status Report
Your job is simple, it is simply to make a report.
To do this, you need to know your audience first. In this case, the audience might be your management. Inform them of the health and direction of the project in a way that they don’t need to look into things themselves. Your job is to help make sense of all the data, and convey that understanding to your boss in under 30 seconds.
Put Yourself in the Managment’s Boots
What does your manager need to know? How do you make a status report presentation in a way that makes your boss’s job easier? Provide them with the information they need to keep on top of things.
Not Simply Reporting Status
Your goal is not just to inform them of what has been done and what is left. Your job is to accurately convey how the project is progressing. If no changes need to be made, then they should feel relaxed. If there are concerns related to anything, then that should also be communicated accurately.
When Changes Need to Be Made
Some project managers try too hard to make everything seem fine. As a result, they are unable to communicate anything else. They are unable to ask for required changes in the project in a way that is easy to understand. The audience is busy thinking about their own goals, they will not pick up on your signals unless you make things very clear.
Make Your Request Early
If you have any specific requests or need help with something, then ask early in the presentation. Don’t wait to ask till the end. This only leaves sponsors confused, leading them to postpone their decision for later.
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