Thursday, July 21, 2016

Your Secret Significant Action Report


For many years I have recommended that managers and supervisors ask their direct reports to submit a biweekly or monthly Significant Action Report. The idea is to have one document that can be easily reviewed and used as a basis for discussion. What either party regards as significant is revealing in itself but the listing provides a handy way to track progress.

Even if you report to no one, however, it can be helpful to prepare and update a Significant Action Report for your own benefit. It is reminder of what is important and what is starting to drift. You may decide to share its contents with nobody but you will find that it is one of your most important documents.

Don't go into huge amounts of detail - the report should be no longer than two pages - but note the current status of important projects. I find that a weekly report permits me to catch changes while nudging me to address neglected priorities.

Try it. You'll like it.

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