Peak Performers by Tiffany Uman

---

How to update your boss like a leader

May 12, 2025

Thank you for joining my Peak Performers newsletter! Every Monday, we share practical tips and scripts to help you land the roles you want, thrive with confidence at work and grow faster.

According to Harvard Business Review, 69% of managers say they’re uncomfortable communicating with employees, especially when it comes to giving feedback or receiving unclear updates.

And the reality? Most professionals make it harder than it needs to be.
They ramble, overshare, or miss the big picture when updating their boss.

Updates aren’t just FYIs. They’re how you build credibility, influence, and autonomy in your role.

Don't fall into the trap of "just informing your boss". Instead, influence them by using every update as a chance to position yourself as a strategic thinker and leader.

One of my favorite 3-part frameworks we teach our clients is:

→ Share current context (i.e. current situation, where you last left off on a topic, etc...)
→ Share what's changed (i.e. progress, new information gained, inflection point on a project, etc...)
→ Share where you're at and next steps (i.e. leave them with clarity on what they can expect from you)

Beyond this, there's 3 other strategies that will solidify your leadership when sharing updates with your boss. Let's break them down together!

3 strategies to update your boss

1/ Tailor your communication to their needs

Go beyond channel preferences and understand what your boss cares about most.

Speak to that, and you'll capture and keep their attention much better, plus gain the support you need.

For example, if they’re focused on cost-cutting, highlight how your work impacts the bottom line.
If they’re under pressure to deliver fast, emphasize timelines and speed.
If they're overloaded, show how you're prioritizing the most pressing projects and driving results.
​
Your job is to connect your updates to their priorities.

Bonus points for connecting them to the bigger goals of your department, division or company to further build your reputation in a meaningful way.

Here's 4 easy ways to tailor your updates better:​
→ Observe what your boss focuses on most in meetings and informal conversations with others.
→ Filter your updates through their goals.
→ Cut fluff, then cut again. Chances are, you can say what you need to say in half the words. Do that.
→ Ask for feedback on what they want more/less of.

[Check out my LinkedIn Learning course Storytelling to Influence Leadership and Decision Makers]

2/ Build a narrative, not a list

Your update should read like a short, strategic story, not a task dump.

Even if you don’t have massive progress to report, show how things are evolving and how you're leading that. Frame challenges, what you’ve tried, and what you need. Make the arc clear.

Follow these 4 steps for maximum effectiveness in your delivery:​
→ Frame updates around themes, not tasks.
→ Use data to reinforce your points. It's hard to deny facts vs. feelings.
→ Be clear with your asks.
→ Show progress, even if it feels small.

[Check out my 10 min training on How to communicate to executives with confidence]

3/ Demonstrate leadership in every update

When you share updates, bring ownership with them.

Instead of flagging problems, show how you’re solving them. Link your work to the bigger picture and highlight wins that wouldn’t have happened without your input.

This is especially important if your direct work is part of a bigger process where multiple teams are involved to reach a target outcome.

Leverage these quick tips to show leadership more clearly:​
→ Share solutions, not just problems.
→ Connect to broader business goals to reinforce the impact of your work.
→ Spotlight team efforts and your contributions. Make sure the distinction between both is clear.
→ Highlight how you’re growing and improving.

Pro tip: If you're developing best practices in how you show up and deliver results, document this and include it in your updates. Then, volunteer to package it together for other teams or markets to boost your visibility and exposure. This is a great way of getting on the radar proactively of key decision-makers who influence your progression. This has led to major breakthroughs for our clients' growth, like Sarah.

[Check out my newsletter on How to build your leadership skills]
​
​This week’s mission: Use these 3 power moves to prep for your review and position yourself for growth:

• Audit your update style. Review the last 2–3 updates you gave your boss, written or verbal. Were they task lists or strategic narratives? Did you connect to their priorities? Identify 1 area where you can improve (e.g. cutting fluff, adding context, clarifying your ask).
  ​
• Draft one leadership-style update. Pick a current project and write a short update that highlights progress, roadblocks, your proposed next steps, and how it ties to a broader business goal.
  ​
• Get input on what resonates most. Ask your boss, “What part of my updates do you find most useful, and is there anything you'd like me to shift?”

You've got this!

P.S. Ready to level up in your career and refuse to wait? Let's chat. Book your call with me here.

Also, if you found this newsletter valuable, please share it with a friend!

What topic would you like me to cover next? Simply reply back to let me know.
​I do my best to answer every email. 🙌
​
​And if you’re not already subscribed to my newsletter, you can do so here:

Join 30,000+ readers