You can find an introduction to Progress Check Meetings in Chapter 18 of Where the Action Is. These resources will help you plan, run, and troubleshoot the specific Progress Check Meetings your team needs.
Definition
A Progress Check Meeting is used to confirm progress on a project or initiative and to maintain project momentum.
Questions Answered
- Since our last progress meeting: What’s been done?
- What still needs doing? What’s changed?
- What do we need to focus on next?
Examples
- The Project Status Meeting
- The Client Check-In
- The Sprint Demo
Purpose
- Maintain project momentum.
- Ensure mutual accountability.
Work Outcomes
- Clarity about work progress.
- Information about circumstances impacting the planned work.
- Visibility into significant victories or setbacks.
- Decisions on how to address potential changes to the project plan.
- Documented decisions and action items.
Human Outcomes
- Reassurance about the project.
- Renewed project momentum.
Meeting Agenda Templates and Guides
 |
Progress, Plans, & ProblemsElise Keith - Inspired by the written report format put together by the fine folks at Weekdone, this meeting agenda template adapts the PPP status report into a status meeting where people can discuss the information they share. Used by product teams, technology companies, and entrepreneurs alike, the Progress, Plans &... [ more ] |
 |
Project Status Update MeetingElise Keith - This meeting agenda template follows a standard format common in organizations with a well-developed Project Management Office. Most commonly scheduled as a weekly or bi-monthly meeting, this format is best suited for those managing cross-functional teams on moderately complex projects or programs. |
Lucid Blog Posts
Elise Keith (2016). A team’s regularly scheduled meetings should maintain work momentum and strengthen the relationships between team members. The frequency of these regular meetings sets the team’s work cadence.
Tricia Harris (2016). Return found that clients wanted to rush through meetings. The problem is that when organizations try to shortcut their meetings, they lose the fundamental cadence that confirms commitments and drives accountability.
Tricia Harris (2015). There is no reason that our team shouldn’t be prepared for a meeting. It really takes a moment’s glance to see what’s on the agenda, and it takes a few seconds to add something. Being well organized for a meeting = more productivity.
Recommended Reading & Resources
Blog Posts
- "7 Ways to Write Better Action Items", Charlie Gilkey (2012).
Books
- Facilitating the Project Lifecycle: The Skills & Tools to Accelerate Progress for Project Managers, Facilitators, and Six Sigma Project Teams. Janet A. Means, Tammy Adams (2005).
- High Output Management. Andy Grove (1983).
- The Project Meeting Facilitator: Facilitation Skills to Make the Most of Project Meetings. Janet A. Means, Tammy Adams, Michael Spivey (2007).