The story behind the numbers
Turns a month of metrics into a clear narrative: what happened, why, and what you are doing about it.
Use it when
Before a board meeting, an all-hands or a monthly update.
What you fill in
- metrics This period's key numbers and last period's
- events What happened: launches, losses, hires, surprises
The prompt
Here are this period's numbers and what happened. Metrics (this vs last period): metrics Events: events Write the narrative a sharp board member would want: 1. Headline: the one thing to know, in 15 words. 2. What moved and why: for each metric that changed more than 10%, the cause, tied to an event or marked "unexplained". 3. What we got wrong and what we learned. 4. What we are doing next period, and the number each action should move. 5. Two questions the board is likely to ask, with honest answers. Keep it under 400 words. No spin: name bad news in the first half. Before you answer, check your draft against every instruction above and fix anything that misses.
Why it works
- Ties every movement to a cause or says it is unexplained.
- Puts bad news early, which builds trust.
- Anticipates questions.