Project Update Template
A clear, structured project update template covering accomplishments, upcoming work, blockers, and risks. Keep stakeholders informed without wasting time on manual status reports.
Status Summary
Quick overview for busy stakeholders
Project: [Project Name]
Report Date: [Date] | Report Period: [Week of X]
Overall Status: [Green / Yellow / Red]
Summary: [1-2 sentence overview of where things stand and any key highlights or concerns]
Completion: [X]% of milestones complete | [X] of [Y] tasks done
Accomplishments & Upcoming
What got done and what is next
Completed This Period:
• [Accomplishment 1]
• [Accomplishment 2]
• [Accomplishment 3]
Planned for Next Period:
• [Task 1] — Owner: [Name]
• [Task 2] — Owner: [Name]
• [Task 3] — Owner: [Name]
Blockers & Risks
Issues that need attention and decisions needed
Current Blockers:
• [Blocker 1: description] — Need: [action or decision needed from whom]
• [Blocker 2: description] — Need: [action or decision needed]
Risks to Watch:
• [Risk 1: what could go wrong and the potential impact]
• [Risk 2: what could go wrong and the potential impact]
Decisions Needed: [Any decisions stakeholders need to make this week]
How to Use This Template
Send on a consistent schedule
Pick a day and time (Friday at 4 PM or Monday at 9 AM) and stick to it. Consistency builds trust and sets expectations. Stakeholders should never have to ask for an update.
Lead with the status indicator
Green, yellow, or red at the top lets busy stakeholders know immediately if they need to read further. Green means on track. Yellow means attention needed. Red means intervention required.
Be specific about blockers
Do not just list blockers. State what you need from whom. "Waiting on legal review from [Name] by [Date]" is actionable. "Waiting on legal" is not.
Keep it scannable
Use bullet points, bold headers, and short sentences. Stakeholders should be able to read the entire update in under 2 minutes. Save details for appendices or linked documents.
Customize in Dewx
Inside Dewx, tell Dew: "Send a weekly project update for [Project Name] every Friday at 4 PM." Dew auto-generates the update from your CX Hub project data, includes completion metrics, flags blockers, and delivers it to stakeholders on schedule. Never write a manual status report again.
Related Templates
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a project update include?
A good project update covers four areas: what was accomplished since the last update, what is planned for the next period, any blockers or risks that need attention, and key metrics or milestones. Keep it concise. Stakeholders want the signal, not the noise. Use a consistent format so readers know where to find information.
How often should I send project updates?
Weekly is the standard cadence for most projects. Send updates at the same time each week (Friday afternoon or Monday morning) so stakeholders can plan around them. For fast-moving projects, daily standups or bi-weekly updates may be appropriate. For long-running projects, a bi-weekly cadence can work if milestones are spaced out.
How do I write a project update when there is bad news?
Lead with the issue, not excuses. State what happened, the impact on the timeline or deliverables, what you are doing to fix it, and what help you need. Stakeholders respect transparency and actionable communication. Burying bad news in a long update erodes trust faster than the bad news itself.
How does Dewx automate project updates?
Dewx CX Hub generates project updates automatically from your task and milestone data. Dew compiles what was completed, what is in progress, what is blocked, and sends a formatted update to stakeholders on a schedule you set. No more manually writing status emails every Friday.
Status Updates, Automated
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Starting at $29/mo for solopreneurs. $79/mo for teams. All features included.
View pricingNever Write a Status Report Again
Dew auto-generates project updates from your live data and sends them to stakeholders on schedule.
Try Dewx FreeAutomate Your Weekly Status Reports
Dewx generates project updates from live data, highlights risks, and delivers them to stakeholders automatically. Spend your Friday afternoons on work that matters.