Async updates let a remote team share information without asking everyone to join the same meeting at the same time. A useful update states its purpose, current progress, decisions, blockers, and next actions, then appears in an agreed channel on a predictable schedule.
What are async updates?
Async updates are written or recorded messages that people can review and answer at different times. They work well when the team needs shared understanding, a status summary, or feedback that is not urgent. They may not fit a high-impact decision that needs several people to think together.
Atlassian’s guidance on asynchronous team updates recommends deciding which topics suit async communication, defining how often each update should appear, and choosing where people will find it. Similarly, use the same idea for your team, then agree how urgent issues should reach someone faster.
How do you write an async update?
Open with the reason for the update and the time period it covers. Then share what changed, what comes next, and where the team needs a decision or help. Name an owner and a due date for each action. Keep supporting detail in a linked document or task rather than hiding the request in a long note.
Choose the right channel and cadence
Pick one place for routine updates, such as a project channel or shared status page. Tell the team where to post, who should read the message, and how to find older updates. Avoid sending the same report through several channels unless the team needs a notification as well as a lasting record.
Also, set a cadence that matches the work. A project that changes every day may need more frequent notes than a slow research task. For this reason, state the period covered so readers can tell whether a message is current. Also explain how to flag urgent issues, because a routine async channel may not provide an immediate response.
Use a clear update structure
Keep the update scannable. Use headings or short bullets for progress, next steps, risks, and requests. State facts separately from opinions or estimates. If a date may change, say what it depends on. Readers should not need to open every link to discover whether the team needs their help.
- State the project, purpose, owner, and period covered.
- Summarize progress and link to the work record.
- List next actions with owners and due dates.
- Describe blockers, risks, or decisions needed.
- Say when and where the next update will appear.
For example, an update might cover the last 5 working days and name a review due Friday. Adjust the period to the team’s schedule and holidays. If a customer decision blocks delivery, state the choice needed and who can make it. Do not describe a planned task as finished.
Make room for questions and decisions
Next, use a clear question when you need input. Add enough context for a teammate to answer without searching through a long thread. If the choice affects scope, budget, security, or a deadline, identify the person with authority to decide. Record the final answer in the project’s source of truth and decision log.
Not every issue belongs in a written update. Atlassian distinguishes async work from situations that need real-time conversation, such as a complex issue or a decision that requires several people at once. If the team needs a fast exchange, schedule a focused call and send a short recap afterward.
For a sample team agreement, ask people to acknowledge a time-sensitive message within 2 hours during core hours. Treat this as an example target, not a universal response standard. Choose an expectation the team can meet, and keep routine requests separate from urgent ones.
Build a reliable async update habit
Finally, make the template easy to reuse and assign an owner for each recurring update. Close stale questions or mark them as still open. If the project changes, adjust the channel or cadence and tell readers what changed. These small habits keep the status page useful instead of letting it become an archive of outdated messages.
VAA Global readers can pair this practice with its guides to remote-work communication, remote-work etiquette, and the operations management course. Follow the client’s communication and record-keeping rules for active work.
Keep teams aligned without adding noise
Async updates help when the team can read, understand, and act on the information without being online together. As a result, use a stable structure, make requests visible, and agree on response expectations. VAA Global readers can adapt this approach to their projects while moving complex or urgent questions into a more suitable channel.
