Last time, a vague request became a clear brief.
Goal.
Audience.
Deliverable.
Deadline.
What "done" looks like.
We sent it back.
So the work started.
And then something happened.
The brief was clear.
The problem was deeper.
HERE’S WHAT WE LEARNED.
A brief can only clarify what you've managed to uncover.
Sometimes the person making the request hasn't fully worked out the outcome themselves.
They know they need something.
They may even approve your interpretation.
Those aren't the same thing.
The useful move was not another long meeting.
It was checking the brief in writing before starting, and checking the work again once there was something real to react to.
That gave the requester two chances to correct course:
Before the work starts.
And while the work is still cheap to change.
🔴🟡🟢 COPY THIS INTO CHATGPT OR YOUR AI TOOL:
Act as my brief reviewer.
Review the brief below and help me find what could make this miss the mark.
Identify:
- Where the brief could mean two different things
- Assumptions the brief makes about what the requester wants
- Questions I should ask the requester before starting
Rules:
- Do not invent answers
- Separate what the brief says from what you think it might mean.
- Keep it concise
Brief:
[paste your brief here]
