Write an article based on this "Start your report early to give yourself more time. Tailor your report to your manager's style. Optimize your report based on the method of delivery. Proofread Create visual elements, if desired."
Find out when status reports are due, and carve out some time each day to work on your report. That way you won't be rushing to try to do it at the last minute. If you're working on an ongoing project, you can create a "template" for your status reports that you'll use each time. This will be much easier for your manager, because they'll know exactly where to find the information they need in each report. If you need to update figures included in the report before you turn it in, leave yourself reminders to do so. Organize your report so that the things you know are important to your manager are front and center. If you're unsure about your manager's style and preferences, ask to see examples of previous status reports that they liked. For example, if you know your manager likes to read a chronological story, you might start with a section headed "This Week's Progress," followed by another labeled "What's Next." If you're submitting a digital file of your report, you can include links to websites or even GIFs and videos, if appropriate. However, if you're submitting a hard copy, these elements won't be useful. You may also want to consider how your status report will be read. For example, if you're sending a digital file using email, you might want to make sure any visual elements can be viewed on a mobile device. and edit your report. Don't just rely on the spelling and grammar checkers in your word processing app. Keep your sentences short, and eliminate unnecessary words and repetition. Your writing should be concise and direct. Avoid using a lot of jargon, which can make it seem like you're trying to hide something or don't know what you're talking about. Read your report aloud. If you stumble over a sentence, that's a clue that your writing is not as clear as it could be. Some managers prefer visual cues as to how a project is doing so they can more quickly assess the project's status. Only include visual elements if you were specifically asked to do so, or if you think they would add something to the report. For example, you might put a green traffic light next to the budget, to indicate that costs were being managed well. If you're a little behind schedule, you would put a yellow light next to the scheduling section.