Executive Reporting: Best Practices
Create executive reports that get attention and drive decisions. Learn what executives want to see and how to present it.
Reporting for Executives
Executive reports need to be concise, focused on business impact, and actionable. Time is precious at the executive level.
What Executives Want
Bottom Line First: Lead with results and recommendations.
Business Context: Connect metrics to business objectives.
Actionable Insights: Tell them what to do, not just what happened.
Report Structure
One-page summary with key findings, brief performance overview, critical insights, and clear recommendations.
Metric Selection
Focus on metrics that matter to the business: revenue, growth, efficiency, and competitive position.
Visualization Guidelines
Use simple, clear charts. Avoid complex visualizations. Include trend indicators and comparisons.
Writing Style
Be concise and direct. Use bullet points. Highlight key numbers. Avoid technical jargon.
Delivery Format
- One-page PDF for quick review
- Dashboard for real-time access
- Presentation deck for meetings
- Email summary for updates