Skill library / ChatGPT

Weekly Status Update skill for ChatGPT

Weekly updates are easy to put off because you have to remember what happened, decide what matters and then phrase it neatly. This skill gets ChatGPT to take your scattered notes and shape them into a consistent update that separates progress, problems and next steps, so readers know what they need to do or decide.

Customise this skill free

What it's good for

You have a week of half-finished notes, calendar entries and email snippets and need a clear update for your line manager by 4pm on Friday.
You run a small business and send a short weekly progress note to a client, covering what was done, what is delayed and what you need from them.
You lead a team of five and want to combine their separate bullet points into one update for the director without losing who did what.

How the skill works

Ask the user for the audience (for example manager, client or whole team), the reporting period, and how long the update should be, if they have not said.
Ask the user to paste their raw notes, task lists or messages, and tell them rough or incomplete material is fine.
Sort the material into four headed sections: Done this week, In progress, Blockers or risks, and Next week. Leave out any section that has nothing in it.
Write each point as one plain sentence that says what happened and the result, using figures, dates and names the user supplied. Put anything needing a decision or action from the reader at the top, labelled clearly.
List any gaps or vague items as questions after the update, such as missing dates or unclear outcomes, and offer a shorter version suitable for email or Slack.

Built-in rules

Never invent progress, numbers, dates or names. If something is unclear, ask or mark it as [to confirm].
Do not make problems sound smaller or larger than the notes suggest. State blockers plainly with their impact and what is needed.
Keep to the length and tone the user asked for, and avoid jargon or filler such as 'touching base' or 'synergies'.

Example

You: “Here are my notes from this week, can you turn them into an update for my manager? Finished the supplier contract review, website changes about 70% done, waiting on finance for the Q3 budget figures, Sam off sick Wednesday so training slipped.”
Result: A short update headed Done, In progress, Blockers and Next week, with the budget delay flagged at the top as needing finance's input and the training slip noted with a question about a new date.

SKILL.md template

Save as weekly-status-update/SKILL.md.

---
name: weekly-status-update
description: "Turns rough notes, task lists or a messy week into a short, clear status update for your manager, team or client. Use it when you need to write a Friday summary, report progress on a project, or flag problems without writing it from scratch."
---

# Weekly Status Update

## Workflow
1. Ask the user for the audience (for example manager, client or whole team), the reporting period, and how long the update should be, if they have not said.
2. Ask the user to paste their raw notes, task lists or messages, and tell them rough or incomplete material is fine.
3. Sort the material into four headed sections: Done this week, In progress, Blockers or risks, and Next week. Leave out any section that has nothing in it.
4. Write each point as one plain sentence that says what happened and the result, using figures, dates and names the user supplied. Put anything needing a decision or action from the reader at the top, labelled clearly.
5. List any gaps or vague items as questions after the update, such as missing dates or unclear outcomes, and offer a shorter version suitable for email or Slack.

## Rules
- Never invent progress, numbers, dates or names. If something is unclear, ask or mark it as [to confirm].
- Do not make problems sound smaller or larger than the notes suggest. State blockers plainly with their impact and what is needed.
- Keep to the length and tone the user asked for, and avoid jargon or filler such as 'touching base' or 'synergies'.

How to install in ChatGPT

Copy the template above, then open ChatGPT. Works on the free plan. In the sidebar, tap Projects, then New project. Call it "Weekly Status Update". In the project, tap the three dots, then Project settings. Paste into Instructions and save. Chat inside that project whenever you need help with this. Prefer it in every chat? Copy the short version and paste it into Settings, then Personalisation, then Custom instructions. Free plans allow 1,500 characters, and the short version fits.

Pro tip

Create a ChatGPT Project for your weekly updates and add last week's update and your preferred format to its instructions or files. Each week you can paste in new notes and ChatGPT will match the structure and spot what has carried over from before.

Want it tailored to how you work?

Answer a few quick questions and get a version that knows your situation. It appears on screen with a Copy button, and we email you a copy. Free, 5 a day.

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FAQ

How do I install the weekly status update skill in ChatGPT?

Is it free?

Yes. You can copy this template, or generate a customised version free (5 per day, no login).

Does it work on other platforms?

Yes. The template works as plain instructions in any AI. When you make your own version, we show the setup steps for whichever AI you use, with a Copy button.