Tips and rules of thumb to guide structure and content of any status report.

1. DCE Communications, LLC
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2.  Author / Audience Relationships
 Purpose of Monthly Report
 Structure and Content
 Rules of Thumb
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Communications, LLC 2

3. Mid-Mgmt Sr. Mgmt
•Include Detail •Further
•Condense Condense •Essential
Detail Detail Progress,
Issues & Plans
Staff VP or C-Level
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Communications, LLC 3

4.  Provide a Summary of progress for Management
◦ Projects, Programs, Imperatives and/or Areas of
Responsibility
 Self-Auditing Tool for You
◦ Identifies areas of slow or no progress
◦ Helps determine whether you need increased focus or
change in resources
 Progress = Accomplishment of Goal(s)
◦ Start something
◦ Complete something
 E.g. Complete [development], Launch [product], Process
[leads], Close [sales] etc.
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5. Current •Progress for past month
•By “Topic”, broken down by “Tasks”
Month •Maintain optimistic tone
Unresolved •Request Help or
•Submit Plan to Resolve
Issues •Build a Rational Case; Avoid emotionally charged language
Goals •Delineate by “Topic”
•“Continue” is NOT a goal
(next 30-90 Days) •Track your Goals month-to-month
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6. Highlight progress on all Topics
Include accomplishments from last
month’s Goals
Relegate “features lists” to separate
document(s)
Include resolution of significant problems
that occurred during the month
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7.  Problems not resolved during past month
◦ Ask for help if required, or
◦ Submit plan to resolve issue
 Reporting Problems with no Corrective Action Plan is
just Whining
 State the facts and build a rational case for
consequences of not resolving the issue
◦ Avoid emotionally charged language
◦ Abandon your inner “Chicken Little”
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8. •No need to delineate Tasks
By Topic •Use goal-oriented language; “continue” is not a Goal
•Bullet Lists are best
•Update these Goals in next month’s report
Track Goals •Move accomplished Goals from this section to
Current Month section as warranted
•State reasons for Drop or Hold
Drop Goal •Depending on policy, remove from next month’s
Goals
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9.  Be optimistic
 Limit Topics or Tasks per Topic to 5
 Avoid emotionally charged language
 Think “goal-oriented”, use active voice
 Be brief but complete
◦ Use bullet lists where appropriate
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Communications, LLC 9

10. Thanks for Your Time!
DCE Communications, LLC
Diane C. Einsele
805-277-4889
Email: diane@dcecommunications.net
See us on the Web at
www.dcecommunications.com
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Communications, LLC 10