My boss asked me for something called a rundown. I don’t know that is?

[Anonymous]

He’s getting impatient that I haven’t given it to him yet and I should’ve asked at first, but I didn’t wanna look stupid. But I can’t figure out what a rundown is and nobody seems to know.

[RavVid]

He just wants you to brief him on some issue ie a rundown on it. It could be just verbal or it might be he wants charts or graphs. Depending on what it is he is possibly asking you to do some analysis on it.

It is hard for us to say without knowing what you do. If it were sales for example I would get this years monthly sales and last year monthly sales and have a chart for jan Feb, March April etc of the two years.

But that might not address what he wants. I would have asked what he wants to know. I think that you are best to apologize and ask what does he want to know. It might be you can just tell him verbally.

Take this as a lesson. Don't be afraid of looking stupid. The sooner you lose that fear the better.

[Asker]

I am the co-manager at a branch of a regional paper company

[RavVid]

OK. do you know what your manager appears to be interested in? My first thought would be sales but could be logistics or something else entirely. If he just asked for a rundown without qualification it is impossibly broad.

In your sit, I would go in with some information in my head or on notes and ask exactly what he wanted to know and how he wanted it represented. Table or graphs? If he just said a rundown without sales or logistics before it he can't be surprised if you got the wrong data for him. I'd just have some data and clarify what he wants.

[AviatorTom]

If your boss asks you for something and you're not sure what it is, ask him to explain. You won't look stupid. You will look stupid when you don't do it, or do it wrong.

[slatyb]

Ask him. Never put things off because you don't know what is wanted. Get the clarification you need to complete the task.

[ProbablyClueless]

A "rundown" is a summary or a quick explanation. In the military, they would call it a "sit rep."

[GoingNooWhere]

Its a quick review or summary of main points of information

[nolabels]

I agree with Siri137.

That sounds like a summary to me.

[Siri137]

Isn't a rundown a basic summary?