Writing Email Updates That Address Key Issues

Got an executive too busy to talk to you? Same. That’s why your weekly roundup email needs to be working overtime. In a world where your exec is triple-booked and skimming more than reading, a well-structured weekly email becomes survival. For you and for them. It cuts down the noise, keeps things tight, and makes you look like the organized genius you are. Here’s how to pull it together like a pro: 📬 Subject Line: Keep it tight and specific. Example: Weekly Update: Sales Ops – Week Ending June 14 👋 Greeting: Professional but warm. Example: Hi Jamie, hope your week’s been productive. 📝 Opening Line: Set the tone and purpose. Example: Here’s a quick roundup of this week’s key updates and priorities. 📌 Key Highlights: What went well. What moved forward. Keep it bullet-style. Completed onboarding for three new hires Finalized Q2 budget and submitted for approval Closed out logistics plan for annual meeting ⚡ Priority Actions/Decisions Needed: This is your call-to-action zone. Be clear. Be bold. Add deadlines. Decision Needed: Approve travel expenses by Friday Action Required: Feedback on draft deck for client meeting 🚧 Challenges/Issues: Don’t just bring problems. Bring potential solutions. Issue: Software update delay – ETA Tuesday Solution: Use current version until rollout 📅 Upcoming Events/Deadlines: Quick scan of what’s coming up. Help them stay ahead. Monday: Team strategy session – 10AM Wednesday: Stakeholder presentation – 2PM Friday: Finance report deadline 🔗 Quick Access Links: No hunting through inboxes. Link it once, link it right. Q2 Budget Report Client Meeting Agenda ✅ Wrap it Up: Let them know what’s next and how to respond. Example: Let me know if you’d like more details on anything above. Looking forward to your feedback on the action items. And if your exec says, “Wow, that weekly email is so helpful,” take the win. But if they don’t say anything but actually read it? Still a win. Streamlining communication like this not only supports your leader, it builds trust, shows initiative, and reinforces your strategic value. Anyone else swear by weekly roundup emails? Or thinking of starting? Let’s swap tips 👇 #evolvedassistant #administrativeassistant #executivesupport #administrativeprofessionals #executiveassistant

How I Write Updates That Actually Get Read as a Program Manager at Amazon Weekly updates shouldn’t feel like novels. And they definitely shouldn’t feel like homework. At Amazon, we don’t write updates to inform…we write them to drive action. Here’s how I make sure mine get read…and drive decisions: 1/ I follow a 3-part format every time ↳ What moved ↳ What’s stuck ↳ What I need from you Example: I start every update with “3 Things You Should Know This Week” and bold the key takeaway of each one. 2/ I cut the fluff ↳ No storytelling ↳ No context dumps ↳ Just signal Example: Instead of writing “we had a productive conversation about timeline shifts,” I write “new launch date agreed: Sept 22.” 3/ I use bold + bullets to make scanning easy ↳ Execs skim ↳ My job is to make the right info jump out Example: I bold every owner and every date…so even in a 10-second scan, leadership knows who’s doing what and when. 4/ I link to source docs, not summaries ↳ If someone wants depth, they can click ↳ If not, they still get the takeaway Example: “For full RCA doc, see here →” has saved me from 5 follow-up questions per week. 5/ I stay consistent even when nothing’s on fire ↳ Trust is built through rhythm, not emergencies Example: Even in quiet weeks, I send the update. If there’s nothing to report, I say that…because silence kills visibility. The best updates don’t just share information… They build confidence in your leadership. What’s your go-to trick for writing updates people actually read?

You spend time crafting the perfect update. And then? Crickets. Not even a "Thank you" It's not that executives don't value your work. They just don't have time to decode it. They're not scanning for detail. They're scanning for decision points. So here's the fix: Use the B-I-R Framework: Bottom Line. Insight. Risk. 1) Bottom Line: "Customer adoption is up 12% this quarter." 2) Insight: "Feature X is driving the lift - especially with enterprise clients." 3) Risk: "But onboarding time is dragging - could stall the next wave of growth." BONUS: "Here is my suggestion for next step" Short. Strategic. Skimmable. One clear update in this format beats three status meetings. Because execs don't want information. They want insights. Make their lives easier - and they'll read every word. (I know because I loved getting these kind of updates as a VP)