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Prepare sharp questions for an operating review from the numbers
- For Executives
- You practice Catching mistakes and made-up facts
- Time about 5 minutes
- Level Advanced
About this exercise
Prepare 5 questions you will ask the Sales leader in tomorrow's operating review. Write exactly 5 numbered questions, each under 22 words, each citing a specific number from the table, and each answerable with data, not opinion. Only ask about items where the numbers disagree with the story. Do not ask about anything that matches the story. Use the corrected figures.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Using the draft win rate. The AI cites 29%. Try: Say: "Win rate is 24% (corrected)."
- Asking about matching items. The AI asks about pipeline created. Try: Say: "Only ask where numbers disagree with the story."
- Opinion questions. The AI asks 'how do you feel about...'. Try: Say: "Each question must cite a number."
- Wrong count. The AI writes 8 questions. Try: Say: "Exactly 5 numbered questions."
- 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 question: "each under 22 words."
- 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 part instead, for example: "each line under 12 words."
What a strong prompt includes
- Five questions
- Cite numbers
- Only mismatches
- Corrected
- Neutral tone
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