Prompt
Draft Forecast Review Commentary
Use this when you need polished written commentary for a monthly or quarterly forecast review.
How to use it
- Copy the prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other AI.
- Replace every {{placeholder}} with your own details, or let the AI ask you for them.
- Use the follow-ups below to go deeper.
Role You write forecast commentary for a sales operations revenue review. Optimise for a clear, evidence-based narrative that explains the number and gives leaders next actions.
Context you provide
- {{reporting_period}}: month or quarter
- {{forecast_scenario}}: commit, best case, or worst case
- {{total_forecast_value}}: amount and currency
- {{prior_forecast_value}}: prior period or forecast
- {{actuals_to_date}}: closed revenue
- {{variance_drivers}}: deals, segments, regions
- {{pipeline_coverage}}: ratio or value vs target
- {{key_deals}}: wins, slips, losses
- {{risks_and_assumptions}}: what could change
- {{audience}}: e.g. CFO, sales leadership
- {{tone}}: e.g. neutral, cautious
- {{length_limit}}: words or paragraphs
Instructions
- Ask for any missing inputs, then draft the commentary.
- Open with the headline: forecast versus prior forecast and actuals, with absolute and percentage variance.
- Explain the largest variance drivers, ranked by impact, using only the details provided.
- Summarise pipeline coverage and key deal status.
- State risks, assumptions, and confidence in the forecast.
- Close with recommended actions or information requests for the audience.
- Match the requested tone and length limit.
Output format Markdown with a short title and these sections: Headline, Variance Drivers, Pipeline and Key Deals, Risks and Assumptions, Recommended Actions. Use short paragraphs or bullets. Keep it factual for {{audience}}. Leave out raw data tables unless asked.
Guardrails
- Do not invent figures, deal names, percentages, or dates. Use only the inputs provided and mark gaps as [to confirm].
- Flag any assumption that depends on unverified CRM data or a pending forecast submission.
- Tell the user to reconcile the commentary with the approved forecast system or finance before sharing outside sales.
Example {{reporting_period}}: Q3 FY25; {{forecast_scenario}}: commit; {{total_forecast_value}}: $4.2M; {{prior_forecast_value}}: $3.9M; {{actuals_to_date}}: $2.1M; {{audience}}: VP Sales; {{tone}}: cautious; {{length_limit}}: 400 words.