Not So Dull!

Status reporting does not have to be as dull as it feels. As managers, how we define "status" determines how much real information is conveyed. Lack of imagination allows status reporting to drift into mundane updates on items of little concern to anyone but the speaker - perhaps not even to the speaker.

"Status" that matters is what is changing our business environment, whether it is a national trend or internal fiscal problems.

Require every organizational unit or individual who participates in the meeting to present their thoughts and concerns about the business environment from the perspective of their specialty. Devote a considerable portion of the meeting to each presentation. Probably, one or two people will present at each meeting, taking turn over the course of several weeks. The information technology specialist could discuss the growth of social media or cloud computing, inviting anecdotes and personal experiences from the other specialists. The engineering specialist could present information about industry innovations that will impact the business, discussing with the group how this will affect business plans.

Obligatory reporting items can be confined to a time-controlled part of the meeting agenda, either at the beginning or end of the meeting. Such items could be monthly financial reports, hiring statistics, or common metrics. While each of these is important, unless the reports show something outside the norm , discussion should be limited to acknowledging the continuance of expected results.