Write a doctoral student's update to a supervisor before a meeting: what was done since last time against what was agreed, results and their meaning, what is blocked, decisions needed from the supervisor, and the plan to the next meeting. Use when asked to write my supervisor update, prepare for supervision, email my advisor about progress, I have nothing to show my supervisor, or write the agenda for my PhD meeting. Produces a one-page update, an agenda with time per item, specific questions that can be answered yes or no or with a choice, and a post-meeting action record template. Distinct f
A source-grounded starter task has not been verified for this skill yet.
SKILL.md
name: phd-supervisor-updatedescription: "Write a doctoral student's update to a supervisor before a meeting: what was done since last time against what was agreed, results and their meaning, what is blocked, decisions needed from the supervisor, and the plan to the next meeting. Use when asked to write my supervisor update, prepare for supervision, email my advisor about progress, I have nothing to show my supervisor, or write the agenda for my PhD meeting. Produces a one-page update, an agenda with time per item, specific questions that can be answered yes or no or with a choice, and a post-meeting action record template. Distinct from stakeholder-update, which is for workplace projects."version: 1.0.0
PhD Supervisor Update
Supervision meetings are short and supervisors are busy. A student who arrives with "it is going fine" leaves with nothing. This skill writes an update that lets the supervisor see progress in two minutes and spend the rest of the meeting on the decisions only they can make. It also works for the weeks when little went to plan, which is when an honest update matters most.
What This Skill Produces
A one-page update: done, found, blocked, decisions needed, next
An agenda with minutes allotted to each item
Questions phrased so the supervisor can answer quickly
An honest framing for slow weeks
A template to record actions and decisions after the meeting
Required Inputs
Ask for these if not provided:
Field, stage of the doctorate, and the next formal milestone with its date
What was agreed at the last meeting
What was actually done, including what was tried and failed
Results, drafts or figures to show
What is blocked and what the student has already tried
Decisions the student needs
Meeting length and the supervisor's preferences (email in advance, slides, a document)
Framework
Report against the last actions. Each agreed action is done, partly done or not done, with one line of reason.
Lead with what was learned, not hours spent. A failed approach that rules something out is a result.
Show, briefly. One figure, table or paragraph per result, with the claim it supports.
Blocks come with attempts. State what was tried and the specific help needed.
Ask decidable questions. "Should I use approach A or B for chapter 3? I lean to A because..." not "what do you think?"
Slow weeks. Say what happened, what it cost in time, and the revised date. Do not pad.
Milestone check. State whether the next milestone is on track, at risk or off track, and why.
Close with the next actions and their dates, small enough to finish.
Output Format
Supervisor update: [name], [date], meeting [n]
Milestone: [name], due [date]. Status: on track / at risk / off track because [reason].
Since last meeting
Agreed action
Status
Note
What I found
[Result and what it means]
Blocked
[Problem], tried [attempts], need [specific help]
Decisions I need from you
[Question with options and my preference]
Plan to next meeting
Action
By
Agenda ([n] minutes)
Item
Minutes
After the meeting, record
Decision or action
Owner
By
Assumptions and gaps
[What was assumed about the last meeting's actions]
[What the supervisor is likely to ask that is not covered]
Quality Checks
Every action from the last meeting is accounted for
Results state what they mean, not only what was done
Each block lists what was already tried
Questions can be answered with a choice or a yes or no
The milestone status is stated honestly
The update fits on one page
Anti-Patterns
Do not report activity as progress.
Do not hide a slipped deadline.
Do not ask open questions that hand the thinking to the supervisor.
Do not send twenty pages the night before.
Do not invent results or overstate a preliminary finding.
Example Trigger Phrases
"Write my update for Thursday's supervision from these notes."
"I got nothing to work for three weeks. How do I tell my supervisor?"
"Turn this into an agenda for a 30-minute meeting with my advisor."
"Help me phrase the questions I need answered about my methods chapter."