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Run a pre-mortem on a hiring plan and tabulate early warnings

  • For Managers and team leads
  • You practice Setting limits and rules
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

Imagine your plan to hire 4 engineers by Feb 28 has failed. In a markdown table with columns Failure, Early warning sign, Prevention step, list exactly 4 failures that come from the notes. Each warning sign must be something you can observe by a date in the notes. Do not use more than 12 words in any cell, and output only the table.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Generic failures. The AI writes 'poor communication'. Try: Say: "Failures must come from the notes."
  • Vague warnings. The AI writes 'delays'. Try: Say: "Warning signs need a date or number you can observe."
  • Wrong shape. The AI adds extra rows or columns. Try: Say: "Columns exactly: Failure, Early warning sign, Prevention step; four rows."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each cell: "each cell under 12 words."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each part instead, for example: "each line under 12 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Columns
  • Four rows
  • Observable
  • Cell limit
  • From notes

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