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99% of Executives Admit Their Companies Are Bleeding Millions Due to Bad Forecasts — Are You Next?

The hidden dangers of over-focusing on decimal points—and how it’s hurting your bottom line.

Author

Glenda Carnate
August 15, 2025

Read time: 2 minutes

Ever had a forecast miss by just 0.01% and watched the entire strategy team go into crisis mode?

You’re not alone.

A staggering 99% of executives report that their businesses have faced negative consequences due to decisions based on inaccurate forecasts. (Anaplan Inc,2024)

That’s right. Nearly every leader has witnessed the consequences of overemphasizing precision at the expense of perspective.

The Forecasting Paradox:

It’s 2025. We’ve sent robots to the Moon. AI is analyzing markets before we even blink. Yet somehow, a decimal point can still send finance teams into a panic.

Enter the CFO. The spreadsheet shivers. The decimal cries. And then… the market sneezes. A billionaire drops a single tweet. Suddenly, the model “failed.”

The Harsh Truth About Forecasting:

Forecasting failures rarely make headlines. They don’t happen in dramatic crises... they happen quietly, in everyday moments:

  • An analyst misinputs a critical figure.

  • A rushed report skips key assumptions.

  • A “minor adjustment” throws the entire forecast off.

Not a cyberattack. Not corporate sabotage. Just… mistakes that quietly cost millions.

The Real-World Forecasting Playbook:

If you want to keep your forecasts out of the corporate graveyard, here’s what actually works:

  1. Focus on Direction, Not Decimals:
    Small fluctuations are normal. Big-picture trends matter more.

  2. Stop Fighting Noise:
    It’s part of the game. Embrace it.

  3. Build in Buffers:
    Prepare for the unexpected.

  4. Brief Leaders, Don’t Scare Them:
    Provide context, not just numbers.

Key Takeaway:

Small fluctuations in your data or forecasts do not always indicate a failing strategy. Often they reflect normal and inevitable changes that are part of business as usual.

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