What NOT to do when presenting a P&L

Below are some common mistakes made when presenting a P&L to your team.

Don't overwhelm

You may be accustomed to deep dives into data, but your audience might not be. Instead of presenting every line item, focus on the most impactful data points that drive your key message. Use straightforward visuals like charts or summary tables to highlight essential trends and insights. This approach ensures that the critical takeaways are clear and actionable without overwhelming your audience.

Context is key

Presenting financial data without context can lead to misunderstandings. Provide a brief overview of the business environment, industry trends, and competitive landscape to frame your data. Compare your performance with industry benchmarks and explain how the data aligns with your strategic goals and challenges. This context helps your audience understand the relevance of the numbers and make more informed decisions.

Avoid assumptions

Avoid assuming that all senior leaders are familiar with your specific financial terminology or internal metrics. Use clear, non-technical language and define any terms or acronyms that might be unfamiliar. Tailor your presentation to the level of detail and focus that aligns with their strategic priorities and interests. This approach ensures that your message is accessible and resonates with your audience.

Bring the story to life

Data alone can be dry and unengaging. Craft a compelling narrative around your P&L data that highlights key achievements, challenges, and opportunities. Structure your presentation to tell a story with a clear beginning (current performance), middle (key issues or successes), and end (future outlook and strategic implications). This narrative approach helps maintain interest and clearly connects the data to your overall business strategy.

Actionable insights

It’s essential to link your data to actionable insights. Don’t just present the numbers—show how they inform decision-making and outline specific actions or strategic adjustments that should follow. Clearly state the implications of your findings and propose concrete steps for addressing any issues or leveraging opportunities. This makes your presentation not only informative but also strategically relevant and actionable.

This approach ensures that your presentation is strategic, engaging, and directly tied to business outcomes.

Do you have any other tips to help convey the numbers to your team?