How to Push Back on an Unrealistic Deadline From Your Boss
How to push back on an unrealistic deadline from your boss: say yes to the goal, then return within a day with the math, 3 options, and your pick.
Latest posts
How to Escalate an Issue Without Going Over Your Boss’s Head
How to escalate an issue without going over your boss’s head: decide by authority, go to your boss first with a proposal, and escalate together. Free email template.
How to Ask Your Boss to Make a Decision (and Get a Yes Faster)
How to ask your boss to make a decision: one line, two or three options with your recommendation, and their questions answered before they ask. Free email template.
Best AI for Writing Reports at Work: Which Tool for Each Step
The best AI for writing reports at work depends on the step: Gemini for research, Claude for polish, all three to check numbers, and you for the conclusion.
How to Write a Status Update for Executives: The Verdict-First Method
Executives read the first line and decide how to think about the rest. Here is a 3-part status update format, a copy-paste template, and a bad vs. good example.
How to Tell Your Boss a Project Is Behind Schedule (Without Losing Their Trust)
Short answer: Here’s how to tell your boss a project is behind schedule: tell them as soon as you know,
How to Follow Up on Action Items After a Meeting (Without Nagging)
Short answer: Here’s how to follow up on action items after a meeting: send the action items in writing within
Decision Memo Template: How to Get a Yes on the First Read (+ Example)
A free decision memo template, a before-and-after example, and the No-Surprise Rule: how to get a yes from a busy approver on the first read.
Pre-Mortem: How to Surface the Risks Nobody Says Out Loud
Short answer: A pre-mortem is a short meeting held before a project starts. The team imagines the project has already
Survivorship Bias: Why Success Stories Mislead You at Work
Survivorship bias means learning only from the winners. How it shows up in deals, projects and hiring, the acquisition mistake I made, and 5 checks before you copy a success story.