prepare-an-executive-briefing

name	prepare-an-executive-briefing
category	write
description	Turn complex work into a concise briefing with evidence, implications, options, and a clear decision request. Use when leaders need to act without losing important uncertainty.

prepare-an-executive-briefing

Lead with the decision or material change. Put traceable detail behind the summary rather than compressing away risk.

Procedure

1. Confirm audience, decision authority, deadline, format, time available, and consequence of no action.
2. State the decision or awareness objective in one sentence.
3. Gather current evidence, baselines, commitments, scenarios, risks, prior decisions, and affected stakeholders.
4. Separate verified facts, estimates, assumptions, interpretations, and recommendations.
5. Write an opening with the change, why it matters now, and the requested action.
6. Present a small set of viable options with cost, benefit, risk, timing, reversibility, and owner.
7. Recommend one option and identify residual risk, dissent, and what evidence would change the recommendation.
8. Add an appendix or linked evidence pack for calculations, methods, and source records.
9. Rehearse to time and test likely questions, contradictions, and a no-decision outcome.

Failure plan

• Do not convert forecasts, targets, or anecdotes into observed results.
• Never bury a material downside or manufacture certainty for brevity.
• If the requested decision exceeds the evidence, recommend a bounded experiment or further evidence.
• Restrict personnel, legal, security, customer, and commercially sensitive detail.

Done

• The requested decision, evidence, options, recommendation, and implications are explicit
• Every important number and claim is checked against a linked source
• The briefing fits its time and the decision outcome is recorded