Prepare a Leadership Update
Added 2026-11-02
Three minutes: progress, risk, the decision you need.
I have a five-minute update for leadership (context below). Prepare: 1) minute one — the conclusion and key numbers; 2) minute two — risks and responses; 3) the final minute — the decision or resource I need; 4) the three questions they are most likely to ask, with answers; 5) where I am likely to over-explain; 6) a one-page outline of six lines or fewer. No opening pleasantries.
Site original
Chinese original
How to use
管理层只需要三样：进展、风险、要我批什么。
Try tweaking it
- Have it state how the hypothesis could be falsified before discussing execution.
- Split the plan into a one-week testable experiment.
What you should get
- A small testable experiment with a failure threshold
- Costs, risks, and what needs outside confirmation
Common mistakes
- Asking for a "full business plan" and getting unverifiable optimistic assumptions.
- No failure threshold, so you never know whether to continue.
How to check the output
- There is a clear failure threshold, testable within a week.
- Costs, assumptions and risks are listed separately.
Where it works
- Good for: turning business assumptions into a small testable experiment with a failure threshold first.
- Watch out: for pricing, contracts and legal points, treat output as a draft needing professional review.