Giving a quick update
Done, doing, blocked: an update in under a minute.
10 minutes · A free lesson from Phone calls and meetings
"Quick update from me. I've finished the new timetable and sent it to the teachers. This morning I'm updating the website. The only problem is the payment page — I still need the new bank details, so if anyone has them, please send them over."
Say it out loud (45 seconds): Give your team a quick update on something you are working on: what you have done, what you are doing, and anything you need.
Lesson quiz
Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.
Quick check: What are the three parts of a quick update?
- Greeting, story, goodbye
- Problems, more problems, end
- Done, doing, blocked
Show the answer
C: Done, doing, blocked — What you have finished, what you are working on, and what you need.
Quick check: Which sentence is the “blocked” part?
- “Yesterday I finished the draft of the report.”
- “I'm waiting for the sales numbers — could someone chase them?”
- “Today I'm checking the figures with Finance.”
Show the answer
B: “I'm waiting for the sales numbers — could someone chase them?” — Blocked means what is stopping you, and who can help.
Quick check: How long should a quick update take?
- Under a minute
- About ten minutes
- As long as you like
Show the answer
A: Under a minute — Keep it short: done, doing, blocked.