Library › Sales AI › Sales and customer success

Plan a rescue when your champion leaves mid-deal

  • For Sales and customer success
  • You practice Setting limits and rules
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Advanced

About this exercise

Brian, your champion at Ridgeline Clinics, left on Oct 30. Today is Friday, Nov 6, 2026. Write a checklist of at most 5 lines, each in the form "- [ ] Owner, Day Mon DD: action" (for example "Janet, Tue Nov 17: ..."). Owners are only Sam (you), Janet or Lena. Nobody may contact Teodora Nash before she returns, and the first action must be dated no later than Tue Nov 10. Under 110 words, nothing before or after the list.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Contacting Teodora early. The AI schedules an executive outreach to the budget owner right away. Try: Add: "Nobody contacts Teodora before Nov 24."
  • Wrong line format. The AI writes a narrative plan with bold headings. Try: Add: "Each line: - [ ] Owner, Day Mon DD: action. At most 5 lines."
  • Ignoring the open SSO question. The AI makes generic 'find a new champion' steps. Try: Add: "Include a step that answers Colm's SSO question."
  • Assuming the quote is extended. The AI says the quote will be extended. Try: Add: "A step for Lena to decide on the Nov 30 expiry; do not assume an extension."
  • Too wordy. The AI explains each step. Try: Add: "Under 110 words, nothing before or after the list."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Fixes the line format
  • Limits owners
  • Protects the leave
  • Sets the first deadline
  • Names the open issues

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises