Project Status Update Email Template & Workflow for Outlook
Send a weekly or monthly project status update with an attached report to a client. Copy this ready-to-use Outlook email template, or use it as a reusable Toggles workflow with variables, recipients, attachments, and team sharing.
Free to try. No automatic sending - review every draft before sending.
Copy/paste template
Copy the project status update email template
Use this once as a regular Outlook template, or launch the full Toggles workflow when you send it repeatedly.
What this template helps you avoid
Common email risks
- Missing required details
- Rewriting the same email manually
- Inconsistent wording across a team
- Forgetting attachments, links, recipients, or preparation notes
Fields your team can fill in
To
Add recipients
Cc
Add recipients
Bcc
Add recipients
Subject
project_name — Status Update for reporting_period
status-report
Hi client_first_name,
Here is your status update for project_name covering reporting_period. The detailed status report is attached — the summary below captures the highlights.
STATUS SUMMARY
• Project: project_name
• Period: reporting_period
• Overall Status: overall_status
COMPLETED THIS PERIOD
• completed_items
UPCOMING MILESTONES
• upcoming_milestones
ITEMS REQUIRING YOUR ATTENTION
The attached report details any open action items or decisions that require your input. Please review these closely — pending client decisions are the most common source of schedule slippage, and I want to keep things moving smoothly on your end as well as ours.
RISKS & FLAGS
Any risks or schedule concerns are flagged in the attached report with recommended mitigation steps. I'll call out anything critical in our next check-in call, but I want you to have the written record in advance so nothing catches you by surprise.
If you have questions before our next scheduled call, please reach out at me::phone. I'm committed to keeping this project on track and you fully informed every step of the way.
Workflow context
When to use this workflow
Use this workflow for weekly or monthly client-facing project updates where the team needs to summarize status, completed work, upcoming milestones, and items needing attention.
What this replaces
This replaces rebuilding status emails from old messages, manually writing subject lines, and checking whether the detailed status report is attached before sending.
Why teams standardize this email
Status updates keep projects moving and reduce surprises. A standard workflow helps project teams communicate consistently, highlight risks, and include the written report while still reviewing the draft before sending.
What Toggles adds beyond a normal Outlook template
Toggles inserts the workflow directly in Outlook, prompts for variables, prepares operational details, and keeps the draft editable before sending.
- Inserts the project status update email in Outlook
- Prompts for client name, project name, reporting period, overall status, completed items, upcoming milestones, and phone number
- Adds a project and reporting period-specific subject line
- Can require the project status report attachment
- Keeps the message editable for project-specific context
FAQ
Does Toggles generate the status report?
No. Toggles can require the user to attach the status report, but the report itself comes from your project process.
Can this be used for both weekly and monthly updates?
Yes. The reporting period is a variable, so teams can use it for weekly, monthly, or milestone-based updates.
Can project managers edit risks and action items before sending?
Yes. The Outlook draft remains editable so the project manager can add context before sending.
Part of a starter pack
Explore the Operations Starter Pack
Help operations teams send structured updates, project messages, invoice notices, and coordination emails from Outlook with fewer missing details.
