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Calculate quarterly turnover by department the right way
Practice: Giving the right context. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
Leadership wants Q3 turnover by department. Your company's formula: separations ÷ average headcount, where average headcount = (start + end) ÷ 2, and internal transfers are not separations. Write exactly 3 numbered lines, one per department, showing that math as a whole percent, then one unnumbered last line: Highest: [department]. Plain text, under 80 words.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Not giving your formula. The AI divides by starting headcount or ending headcount, whichever it picks. Try: Add: "Turnover = separations ÷ ((start + end) ÷ 2)."
- Counting transfers. The AI counts the 2 Logistics transfers as people who left. Try: Add: "Internal transfers aren't separations."
- Not asking to see the work. Leadership will ask how you got each number. Try: Add a line to copy: "1. Warehouse: 8 ÷ 78 = 10%"
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each line: "each line under 16 words."
- Forgetting where it goes. AI loves markdown tables and bold, which show up as clutter in a leadership deck note. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold, headings or tables."
What a strong prompt includes
- Gives the formula
- Excludes transfers
- Asks to show the math
- Sets a word limit
- Asks for plain text
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