In this episode of The NFP CEO, Michelle and Danielle revisit one of the most common pain points for new and aspiring CEOs - the CEO report. Building on an earlier episode, they dive deeper into what a CEO report should actually look like and share a simple structure that can save time, improve board engagement and make reporting far more effective.

Danielle introduces the “three-plus-three” framework, three main headings, each with three sub-headings and explains how she’s adapted it in her own CEO reports with input from board members. Michelle adds insights from her experience on both sides of the board table about how consistency, clarity and narrative make reports easier to read and respond to.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to co-design a CEO report framework with your chair or board
• Why a consistent structure improves readability and engagement
• How the “three-plus-three” approach works:
• Financial Performance – your commentary on revenue, cash flow, cost savings or funding issues (not just the numbers)
• Operational Updates – KPIs, HR metrics, Workplace Health and Safety, stakeholder or member updates, and customer feedback
• Strategic Initiatives – progress on your strategic plan, market analysis, risks, legislative change and big picture trends
• Tips for anticipating board questions and keeping narrative concise
• Why decisions or approvals you’re seeking from the board should be flagged upfront
• How aligning your CEO report with the board agenda can streamline meetings.

If you’ve ever wondered how to stop your CEO report from becoming “bigger than Ben Hur,” this episode gives you a clear, adaptable outline you can start using right away.

Related Episodes:

The Board Pack - How to Write Effective Briefing Papers

The Board Pack - Structuring Your CEO Report

The Board Pack - Designing Effective Board Agendas as the CEO

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: The NFP CEO: Overview | LinkedIn

Website: thenfpceo.com.au

Michelle Cutler: Michelle Cutler | LinkedIn

Danielle Ballantine: Danielle Ballantine | LinkedIn