Modern Asynchronous Stakeholder Updates

Published on September 4, 2023•By Joey Davis

Ah, the good old days of lengthy email threads, presentations, and hour-long status update meetings that made you question the essence of time.

You've been there; you know the struggle.

What if I told you there's a modern way to keep stakeholders in the loop without the meeting overkill and the email overload? What if a few small adjustments around the structure and delivery of these updates could provide greater business value in less time?

Welcome to the world of asynchronous stakeholder updates.

Bonus: All your favorite Gen AI assistants can not only utilize this format, but they can also be tuned to output in this format as well based off meeting notes, personal notes, etc.

Also, task board providers: please provide this as a copy/paste option! We love the ability to have stakeholders see task boards, they just aren't using them.

The Paradigm Shift You Already Know About

Stakeholder management has evolved. In an age where remote work is becoming the norm and teams are spread across multiple time zones, asynchronous updates are not just an innovation; they're a necessity. Traditional methods often fall short, leaving stakeholders either overwhelmed with too much information or under-informed with not enough context. Enter asynchronous stakeholder updates, the modern way to keep everyone on the same page—literally.

We're all using Slack, Teams, or similar messaging apps for internal communication. But have you considered leveraging these platforms for structured, asynchronous stakeholder updates? With just the right format, you can turn these everyday tools into powerful vehicles for stakeholder engagement.

The Optimal Structure You May Not Be Using

The success of a modern approach hinges on structuring your updates for maximum impact and minimum fluff. You need a format that is:

• Obvious Visual Waypoint: Use emojis, bold headings, and bullet points. This provides waypoints that allow stakeholders to quickly traverse the information.
• Bite-Sized yet Comprehensive: Short, but packed with all the essentials.
• Actionable: Stakeholders can easily identify next steps.
• Transparent: Blockers and challenges are laid out openly.
• Consistent: A uniform template ensures stakeholders know what to expect, every time they engage with you.

Here's an example of what an update might look like:

💬 Team Update - Date

🎯 Goals

• Goal 1
• Goal 2

✅ Completed Items

• Item or Aspect 1
• Item or Aspect 2

🚧 Work In Progress

• WIP 1
  • Detail:
  • Callout:
• WIP 2

❓Open Questions

• @person_who_may_have_answer Q:
  • Context:
  • CC: @person_who_cares
• @person_who_may_have_answer Q:
  • Context:
  • CC: @person_who_cares ⛔️ Blocked Items
• Item 1
• Item 2 📅 Upcoming Dates
• Item 1
• Item 2 🔗 Additional Resources
• Work Tracking Link

For those of you using Markdown extensively:

The Payoff

By adopting asynchronous stakeholder updates, you:

1. Save Time: Scheduling nightmares are reduced. You won't be left waiting in a meeting room for a stakeholder that may never arrive even though their RSVP says "Yes."
2. Increase Engagement: Stakeholders can engage on their own time. This is a messaging app, so it's a conversation! Feel free to follow up or tag a specific person who you need an answer from or would like to follow up with.
3. Boost Transparency: Real-time updates mean real-time solutions.
4. Enhance Productivity: Less time in meetings equals more time for the work that matters.

If you aren't doing this already, start today instead of tomorrow! Asynchronous stakeholder updates are the future, and the future is now. They offer a simple yet effective way to keep stakeholders informed, engaged, and empowered—all on their own time. So why not give it a try? Transform that Slack or Teams channel into a powerhouse of stakeholder communication today!