Quick hallway check-ins are great, but when your team spans time zones and everyone’s calendar seems fully booked, they’re not always possible. Weekly updates pick up the slack. They’re a fast, structured way to keep everyone on the same page and make sure nothing slips through the cracks. They also help keep the team connected without adding another hour-long meeting to everyone’s week.
Rolling out weekly updates might sound easy in theory, but you should approach it with intention. In a post on the Lattice blog, Emma Stonehouse and Sarah Lindenfield Hall explain how to make these updates an embedded part of your team’s workflow and not just a flash in the pan. We share their tips in this issue of PromoPro Daily.
Start with clear guidance. When launching weekly updates with your team, Hall and Stonehouse recommend taking the time to explain what they are and what they’re not. For example, some staff members might worry that weekly updates are just another word for micromanagement. Explain that these brief async check-ins are designed to foster transparency and encourage open dialogue — not to monitor their every move.
Make consistency easy. Weekly updates shouldn’t be an optional extra but embedded into how your team works. They recommend providing a weekly report template that asks the same questions every week. These might be “What did you focus on this week?” and “What are your plans and priorities for next week?” Stonehouse and Hall encourage leaders to model the behavior they want to see from their teams. In other words, share thoughtful comments and provide space for reflection.
Set the right tone. Weekly updates shouldn’t feel like a performance review in disguise. Hall and Stonehouse advise asking your team to be honest, whether that’s naming whatever’s blocking their progress or sharing how they’re feeling about collaborating with a new team member. You can set the right tone by guiding your team members through the questions and encouraging them to write a couple of lines or a few bullet points.
Review and refine. Like any communication tool, weekly updates should evolve with your team’s needs. Stonehouse and Hall say it’s important to follow up with your team members and learn how they feel about the updates. If you notice people are writing the same thing week after week, you may need to change up your questions so you can uncover the kind of detail you want.
Weekly updates shouldn’t be just another item on your to-do list. Think of them as a way to stay connected to your team. When done well, these brief, async check-ins can help keep everyone moving forward, no matter where they’re located or how packed their schedules might be.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Emma Stonehouse and Sarah Lindenfield Hall contribute to the Lattice blog.
