- 1). If you are being measured against a performance goal, be sure to report any job-related statistics or status metrics for those goals. This is numerical data that management may wish to know upon occasion but can skim over when in a hurry. If you are an individual contributor, this will be personal and job related goals. If you are reporting as team leaders or lower level manager, this could be based on group, department, or project goals.
- 2). You must highlight any major accomplishments or high priority projects. Management may choose to put a limit as to how many line items or projects the progress report can include. This helps you to focus on high priority items only.
- 3). After you state what is going well, you need to describe issues, barriers, or problems encountered along with possible alternatives or solutions you might like to implement. This helps your management understand anything that might affect the your ability to do the best job or potential causes for team problems or project slippage. Remember management likes to know what is going on but prefers your to give ideas rather than just document complaints.
- 4). Lastly, if you feel you or your team is stymied, explain how your management may be able to help in the situation or with the barrier you are encountering. If you don't let management know that you need help, they will assume you can handle the problem. Recognize that management may choose to coach you for future situations or they may take direct action themselves.