How can you present performance reports to highlight essential information?

1 Know your purpose

Before you start creating your performance report, you need to define the purpose and scope of your presentation. What are the main goals and objectives of your report? Who are you presenting to and what are their expectations and interests? How much detail and context do they need? How will you measure and demonstrate success? Answering these questions will help you focus on the most relevant and meaningful information and avoid unnecessary or confusing details.

3 Use clear and consistent language

The language you use in your performance report should be clear, concise, and consistent. Avoid jargon, acronyms, or technical terms that your audience may not understand. Use simple and direct sentences that convey your message effectively. Use the same terms and definitions throughout your report to avoid confusion. For example, if you use revenue, sales, or income interchangeably, make sure you explain what they mean and how they differ. Also, use the same units, scales, and formats for your data to ensure comparability and accuracy.

4 Highlight key insights and actions

One of the most important aspects of presenting performance reports is to highlight the key insights and actions that emerge from your data. What are the main findings and conclusions of your analysis? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your performance? What are the opportunities and threats for improvement? What are the recommendations and next steps you suggest? Use headings, subheadings, bullet points, colors, icons, or other visual cues to draw attention to these elements. Also, use stories, examples, or anecdotes to illustrate your points and make them more memorable.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?