Use AI to prepare a backup plan before a meeting in case things don't go as expected.
Most people prepare what they'll say in a meeting, but few prepare what they'll do if things go sideways. Maybe your boss challenges your timeline, a stakeholder raises an objection you didn't expect, or someone derails the conversation with a completely different priority. You can use AI to think through these scenarios ahead of time and prepare flexible responses so you're not caught off guard. Start by telling AI the purpose of your meeting and what you're hoping to achieve. Then ask it to generate possible obstacles, objections, or curveballs that could come up. Next, work with AI to draft short, professional responses or alternative approaches for each scenario. This isn't about scripting every word — it's about walking in with a plan B, C, and D so you stay calm and credible no matter what happens. By the end, you'll have a simple reference doc with likely challenges and how you'll handle them. Print it, keep it on your laptop, or just review it before the meeting. You'll feel more confident, and when something unexpected does happen, you'll already know how to pivot without panicking.
Try this prompt today
“I have a meeting tomorrow where I'm proposing a new process for tracking customer feedback. My goal is to get approval to pilot it with one team. But I'm worried people might push back. Can you list 5–7 likely objections or challenges that could come up (like concerns about time, cost, complexity, or disruption), and then suggest a short, calm, professional response I could use for each one?”
March 19, 2026
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