Status Reporting

Status Reporting

Overview

This skill defines how to communicate progress and status clearly and consistently. Good status reporting enables coordination, prevents surprises, and helps stakeholders plan their work based on yours.

When to Use

• When providing regular progress updates (heartbeat, daily, weekly)
• When a task or project stage is completed
• When stakeholders request a status update
• When blockers or delays affect dependent work
• Before handoffs to the next agent in a workflow
• Don't use when: Status is unchanged since last report, or no one needs to know

Core Procedures

Step 1: Determine Report Audience and Frequency

Step 2: Build Status Report

STATUS REPORT
=============
Agent: [name, company, role]
Date: [report date/time]
Task: [what task or project this covers]
Period: [what time range this report covers]

STATUS: [ON TRACK / AT RISK / BLOCKED / COMPLETED]

PROGRESS:
- What was completed this period:
  - [specific item 1]
  - [specific item 2]
- What is in progress:
  - [specific item 3] - % complete
  - [specific item 4] - % complete

BLOCKERS:
- [blocker description, when it started, what is being done]
- NONE

NEXT PERIOD:
- [what will be worked on next]
- [expected completions]

METRICS:
- [relevant key metrics: completion %, quality score, time on task]

RISKS:
- [any risks that could derail plan, current status]

Step 3: Validate Report

Before sending:

• Status accurately reflects reality (no sugar-coating or unnecessary alarm)
• Completed items are actually done (passed output-validation-checklist)
• Blockers are specific with active resolution efforts
• Next period goals are realistic
• Metrics are current and accurate

Step 4: Send and Follow Up

• Send report through appropriate channel (messaging, dashboard, handoff)
• If BLOCKED or AT RISK, also trigger escalation-management
• Acknowledge any questions or feedback on the report
• Update next report based on whether this period's plan was achieved

Quality Checklist

• Status honestly reflects situation (accurate, not optimistic/pessimistic)
• All completed items pass quality validation
• Blockers have clear description and active resolution
• Next period goals specific and achievable
• Metrics and dates current
• Sent to all who need this information

Error Handling

• Error: Report reveals you're significantly behind schedule Response: Include this honestly, propose revised timeline, escalate if impact is critical
• Error: Dependent agent reports they can't use your output Response: Understand the gap, fix if possible, update status to reflect rework needed
• Error: Status changed to BLOCKED since last report Response: Trigger escalation immediately, update all affected stakeholders

Cross-Team Integration

Related Skills: handoff-protocol, escalation-management, risk-assessment, output-validation-checklist Used By: ALL agents for regular updates; especially CEOs, monitors, reporters, project managers