This week's action:
The "Steel-Man" Prompt. Before your next high-stakes meeting, don't just "prep." Paste the meeting agenda or the project brief into your AI of choice and use this prompt: "I am [Your Role] meeting with [Participant Roles]. We are discussing [Topic]. Identify the 3 most difficult, critical questions they are likely to ask me, and give me a 'Steel-Man' argument for the counter-perspective so I can address it before they do."
Why this matters:
This isn't about letting a machine think for you; it's about using a machine to stress-test your thinking. When you walk into a room already knowing the toughest questions you'll face, and having the data to de-escalate the counter-arguments, you don't just look "prepared." You look like a god. You look like you have an intuitive grasp of the business that others simply haven't developed.
In 2026, the competitive advantage doesn't go to the person who works the hardest. It goes to the person who uses technology to have the best situational awareness.
How to "God-Mode" your prep:
The Blind Spot Check: Ask AI: "What is the one thing everyone in this meeting is likely ignoring because it’s uncomfortable?"
The Jargon Translator: If you’re meeting with a technical team: "Explain the 3 core risks of [Technical Project] as if I am a CFO focused on ROI."
The "So What?" Filter: Paste your planned presentation and ask: "Identify the 2 slides here that add zero value to the decision-making process." Then, delete them.
