Operations · 15 min

Build a monthly status report from your mail and files

Copilot Chat, Work IQ on

Short answer: In Copilot Chat, check the Work IQ toggle is on, then paste the prompt with your project name and month. Type / to add the tracker file or key meetings. Review each cited item before you send the report.

Last checked against Microsoft docs: Oct 21, 2026

You've seen people connect ChatGPT to their inbox and ask for a monthly roundup. Here's how in Copilot: with Work IQ on, Copilot Chat can search your emails, meetings and files and draft the report with citations.

A common situation (composite)

Every month I open 60 emails and four spreadsheets.
I rebuild the same report from memory.
Half of it is finding things, not writing.

What you get

Data: a month of project emails, meetings and files you can access.
Does: finds and summarizes project activity.
Output: a status report draft with citations.
How often: monthly.

Before you start

Needs: Microsoft 365 Copilot. Not sure what you have? Start here.
Where: Copilot Chat, Work IQ on.
Access: Copilot only uses content you already have permission to open. Use only information your company allows in Copilot.

The steps

Open Copilot Chat and make sure Work IQ is on.
Paste the prompt with project name and dates.
Type / to add the tracker or key meeting so Copilot uses them.
Click through citations, then paste the draft into your report template.

Copy this prompt

Draft the [month] status report for [project name].

Look at my emails, meetings, Teams chats and files from [start date] to [end date] that mention [project name or code].

Sections: Done this month, In progress, Risks and blockers, Decisions made, Decisions needed, Next month.

Cite the source for each line. List anything that conflicts between sources under Risks. Don't guess at percentages or dates.

(Prompt from stuckwithcopilot.com/guides/monthly-status-report/)

Data tip: use this with your work Copilot, and leave out passwords, payment details and anything your company marks restricted.

What a good result looks like

Each line has a citation. Conflicts show up under Risks.

If a feature is missing

On Copilot Chat without Work IQ, paste your notes and use the weekly project update guide instead.

Make it smarter

Keep a short "What it got wrong" note. Paste it above the prompt next time, like "Don't invent dates".

Not sure what to ask? Copy the quick note for your Copilot admin.

Quick version: what's new on a topic

You don't always need a full report. Sometimes you just need to know what's happened on an account or project lately.

Grouped by source: ask for what's new, split into emails, chats and files.
Sales report: use the same method for a monthly upsell or pipeline report.

Prompt

What's new on [project or account] in the last [two weeks]? Group it by emails, Teams chats, meetings and files. One line each, with the date and who it's from.

(Prompt from stuckwithcopilot.com/guides/monthly-status-report/)

Make it better

Run this next, in the same chat.

From that, what decisions are waiting on me, and what's overdue? List each with who's waiting.

(Prompt from stuckwithcopilot.com/guides/monthly-status-report/)

Data tip: use this with your work Copilot, and leave out passwords, payment details and anything your company marks restricted.

Questions people ask

Build a monthly status report from your mail and files?

In Copilot Chat, check the Work IQ toggle is on, then paste the prompt with your project name and month. Type / to add the tracker file or key meetings. Review each cited item before you send the report.

What do I need for this?

Microsoft 365 Copilot. On Copilot Chat without Work IQ, paste your notes and use the weekly project update guide instead.

Next step

Try it once, then make it yours.

Run the prompt on one real task this week. Then pick your next workflow.

See the workflow library ↗

Cite or share this guide

Build a monthly status report from your mail and files. Stuck with Copilot. https://stuckwithcopilot.com/guides/monthly-status-report/ Last checked Oct 21, 2026.

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Official references

Last checked against Microsoft docs: Oct 21, 2026.