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Report pipeline coverage under two definitions without picking one

  • For FP&A and financial analysts
  • You practice Keeping the AI to your sources
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Advanced

About this exercise

You're giving the CRO and CFO the pipeline coverage ratio for the quarter. Sales Ops and Finance define coverage differently, and the leaders have not agreed on one. Write a prompt for plain text with lines starting "Sales Ops definition:", "Finance definition:", "In-quarter only:" and "Not decided:". Show the math for both ratios as a multiple (x). "In-quarter only" repeats both after removing deals that close next quarter. Do not say which definition is right. Under 130 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Picking a definition. The AI says the weighted version is more accurate. Try: Add: "Do not say which definition is right."
  • Leaving next-quarter deals in. The AI uses the full pipeline for the in-quarter view. Try: Add: "In-quarter only: remove deals closing in Q1 from both totals."
  • Mixing weighted and unweighted. The AI subtracts the unweighted Q1 deals from the weighted pipeline. Try: Add: "Remove the unweighted Q1 amount for Sales Ops and the weighted for Finance."
  • Missing the labels. The AI writes a paragraph. Try: Add: "Four lines with these exact labels."
  • Markdown extras. The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits. Try: Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each part short.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Names the four lines
  • Gives both formulas
  • Removes Q1 deals
  • Bans picking a side
  • Caps length

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