The four lines
- Yesterday: one line, outcome-shaped
- Today: one line, the top thing
- Blockers: one line, or "none"
- Signal: one line — a link, a decision, or a heads-up for the team
How the manager reads it
Scan the whole thread once. React to blockers with an owner or a next step within the hour. Don't turn it into a thread — take conversations to a DM or a doc.
When to escalate to a sync
If the same blocker appears twice in one week, or the team is coordinating a live change, replace that day's async with a short call. The async is the default, not a dogma.
Common pitfalls
- — Turning it into a paragraph. Long updates don't get read.
- — Using it as a status report to management. It's a coordination tool for the team.
- — Punishing missed days. Occasional gaps are fine; repeated silence is a 1:1 topic.