Excel Agent Mode has changed how dashboards are built. Instead of manually assembling formulas, pivot tables, and charts, you can now describe your intent in natural language and let Excel orchestrate the work.
But reliability does not come from the agent alone. It comes from how well you prompt it.
This article introduces a practical, step-by-step prompt checklist you can use before submitting any Excel Agent Mode request—ensuring the dashboards you generate are accurate, readable, and decision-ready.
Think of this as the equivalent of a pre-flight checklist for AI-assisted analytics.
Why a Prompt Checklist Matters
Traditional Excel dashboards fail due to:
- Broken formulas
- Incorrect references
- Manual errors
Excel Agent Mode dashboards fail for a different reason:
- Ambiguous intent
When prompts are unclear, Agent Mode still produces output—but the results may:
- Look correct while being misleading
- Optimize for visuals instead of insight
- Ignore business context
A checklist forces clarity before generation, not after correction.
The Prompt Checklist (Use This Before Every Dashboard)
1. Audience Check: Who Is This Dashboard For?
Ask yourself:
Who will actually read this dashboard?
If you do not specify the audience, Excel Agent Mode defaults to generic reporting.
Include in your prompt:
- Executive / manager / analyst / operational user
- Technical vs non-technical reader
Example:
“This dashboard is for non-technical senior managers who need a high-level performance overview.”
2. Decision Check: What Action Should This Dashboard Enable?
Dashboards without decisions are just reports.
Ask yourself:
What decision should this dashboard make easier?
Include in your prompt:
- Identify problems
- Track progress
- Compare performance
- Trigger investigation
Example:
“The goal is to quickly identify which regions are underperforming against targets.”
3. Time Context Check: What Time Horizon Matters?
Agent Mode cannot guess whether:
- Daily
- Weekly
- Monthly
- Quarterly
is appropriate.
Include in your prompt:
- Reporting period
- Comparison period
Example:
“Show monthly performance compared to the previous three-month average.”
4. Data Structure Check: What Does Each Row Represent?
This is one of the most commonly skipped—and most critical—steps.
Ask yourself:
What does one row in this dataset actually mean?
Include in your prompt:
- Transaction-level vs summary-level data
- Meaning of key columns
Example:
“Each row represents one sales transaction. ‘OrderDate’ is the transaction date, and ‘Revenue’ is net sales.”
5. Metric Definition Check: Are KPIs Unambiguous?
Terms like:
- Revenue
- Profit
- Churn
- Utilization
- Conversion
often have multiple definitions.
Include in your prompt:
- How metrics should be calculated
- Any exclusions or filters
Example:
“Profit should be calculated as Revenue minus Direct Costs only.”
6. Comparison & Benchmark Check: What Is ‘Good’ or ‘Bad’?
Numbers alone are meaningless without reference points.
Ask yourself:
What should today’s numbers be compared against?
Include in your prompt:
- Targets
- Budgets
- Historical averages
- Thresholds
Example:
“Highlight metrics that deviate more than ±10% from budget.”
7. Validation Check: Should Data Be Checked First?
Agent Mode does not automatically validate data quality.
Include in your prompt if reliability matters:
- Missing values
- Duplicates
- Outliers
Example:
“Before building the dashboard, identify missing values and duplicate rows.”
8. Insight Before Visuals Check
Dashboards often fail because visuals come before logic.
Ask yourself:
What insight should stand out before any chart is added?
Include in your prompt:
- Analytical priority
- Ranking or highlighting rules
Example:
“Focus first on identifying the top three problem areas before selecting charts.”
9. Complexity Control Check: What Should Be Excluded?
More metrics ≠ better dashboard.
Include in your prompt:
- What not to include
- Maximum number of KPIs
Example:
“Limit the dashboard to no more than six KPIs.”
10. Iteration Check: Is This a First Version or Final?
Excel Agent Mode works best iteratively.
Ask yourself:
Is this an initial draft or a final deliverable?
Include in your prompt:
- Permission for clarification
- Expectation of follow-up steps
Example:
“Create an initial version and ask clarifying questions before finalizing.”
A Complete Example Prompt Using the Checklist
“Create a monthly sales dashboard for senior management.
Each row represents one transaction; ‘OrderDate’ is the transaction date and ‘Revenue’ is net sales.
The goal is to identify underperforming regions compared to budget.
Compare current month performance to the previous three-month average and highlight deviations greater than 10%.
Validate the data for missing values before creating visuals.
Limit the dashboard to six KPIs and prioritize insights over design.
This is an initial version—ask clarifying questions if needed.”
This single prompt incorporates every checklist item—and consistently produces stronger dashboards.
Why This Checklist Works
Reliable Excel Agent Mode dashboards come from:
- Explicit context
- Defined intent
- Controlled scope
The checklist shifts dashboard creation from:
“Generate something impressive”
to:
“Generate something useful”
Final Thought: Prompting Is Now a Core Analytics Skill
In the Agent Mode era:
- Prompting replaces manual setup
- Clarity replaces syntax
- Thinking replaces mechanics
If you apply this checklist consistently, Excel Agent Mode stops feeling unpredictable—and starts behaving like a disciplined analytics partner.
Excel Mini Dashboard 