# Build a weekly update people can act on

Original 5HO practice material. Fictional example. Reviewed 5 October 2026.

## Useful result

You'll finish with a weekly update that directs attention to progress, blockers, decisions and owned next actions.

A weekly update should make the next action easier to see. “Lots of progress across several areas” sounds busy, but gives the reader nowhere to go. Start with what changed.

## Set up

Allow 15 minutes. Use notes from one reporting period in a chat tool. Keep older notes separate so last week’s success does not accidentally happen twice.

## Practice input

This week: 8 support cases closed; 3 remain open; one needs supplier input. Training guide drafted, not reviewed. Next week: Jo reviews guide Tuesday. Decision needed: who owns the supplier follow-up?

## Do the task

1. Group the notes into completed work, current blockers and next steps.
2. Ask for a concise update with a distinct decision-needed line.
3. Verify counts, dates and the difference between drafted and approved.

## Prompt

Write a weekly update under 160 words. Use Completed, In progress, Next week and Decision needed. Preserve the facts and identify unresolved ownership.

## Refine

Move the supplier follow-up question into the final line. Keep the training guide out of Completed because its review is pending.

## Expected checks

The update should show 8 closed and 3 open cases without inventing a closure rate. Jo’s Tuesday review is a next step, not a completed approval.

## Save

Save the update with its reporting dates. Keep the structure for next week, but replace every fact.

## Sources

- Writing clear prompts: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10032626-prompt-engineering-best-practices-for-chatgpt