Shape Your Work with Two Quick AI Moves

AI can help your ideas break through and ask the questions others won't

Do more than what people expect.

It’s a mantra I use for myself and has resonated with junior colleagues I’ve mentored. How does that mantra translate to using AI at work? Simple prompting of AI is becoming expected. However, casual prompts produce casual answers. Here are two moves that beat the default in unexpected ways.

Using Audio Overviews

Do you generate content that never gets read because your colleagues are too busy, overwhelmed by their inboxes, etc.?

Memos, newsletters, emails, and decks pile up faster than anyone can read them. However, some busy colleagues prefer listening to reading. Here’s a workflow you can use to help your key ideas break through. Try this initially on something that does not contain sensitive information:

1. Prepare your communication in your normal format.

2. Take the text and go to your preferred AI tool. I’ll provide an example Gemini workflow below. I used Gemini 2.5 Pro for the advanced reasoning capabilities.

3. Tell Gemini to review the content of your communication including any supporting materials or links and to create a transcript for an audio overview.

   Starter prompt to tailor:

First, review the [text, files, links] I've provided you. Then generate a detailed but concise transcript (~5 minutes to talk through). The transcript will be used to create an audio overview for executives who prefer to listen to the content. The language should flow naturally as if a human is giving a briefing not like reading a bunch of bullet points. The transcript should identify the key takeaways including the questions to consider. The level of detail should be enough that the execs do not feel like they have to read the source material to understand the main point but can go to it if they want more information. The transcript should also explain why any recommended actions are important. Ask any clarifying questions you require to complete this task.

4. Answer the clarifying questions, run the prompt, and copy the transcript.

5. Now go to Google AI Studio.

6. Select Native Speech Generation.

7. Choose Single Speaker Audio and Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview TTS for fast audio.

8. Choose a preferred Voice for your overview (listen to the previews). I like Kore.

9. Paste the script you generated in the “Text” section and run the model.

10. Send both your original communication AND the audio overview noting AI use.

At least one exec will thank you for the five-minute walk-and-listen version.

Using AI as a Provocateur

Does your organization struggle with groupthink? Use AI to challenge yourself.

If using for work, be sure to follow policy and only use approved apps. However, with modification, this workflow can also help your thinking on complex personal topics.

1. Choose a virtual meeting and have AI generate a transcript of the discussions.

2. Create a project or canvas in an approved AI environment (e.g., ChatGPT).

3. Upload the transcript and any supporting files for the meeting.

4. Add instructions for the AI tailored to the type of discussion. Here’s an example:

   You are a senior strategy leader at [your company]. You bring contextual knowledge of [your company], [your industry], and [your markets]. You have a world-class ability to synthesize insights from multiple data sources. You cut through the fluff, read between the lines for what is unsaid, and abstract back from the presented information to what matters. You communicate in a concise professional tone. You avoid buzz words and provide enough detail to enable executives to understand your perspective and rationale but without being overly wordy.

5. Next, ask the AI to review the files and transcript and create a concise summary. You should check that it is processing the information correctly.

6. Now, use the following types of prompts to turn AI from being a sycophantic supporter to a valuable adversary with no fear of asking tough questions.

   What surprised you after reviewing those documents and transcripts? Given all your knowledge of [your company, project, competitors, markets, etc.], what are we missing? What should we be talking about more? It's OK to be provocative and controversial. Challenge how the leadership is thinking.

   What am I not asking you that I should be? I want to prepare for meaningful conversations with leadership that go beyond reiterating what I provided in the materials. Give me a short, deliberately provocative “question bank” I can use to surface hidden tensions, pressure-test mental models, and push the team toward concrete choices and timebound commitments.

7. Take time to consider the questions. AI doesn’t have all the context so some may miss the mark. However, others will be uncomfortable and push your thinking.

8. Send the questions that you think resonate most and recommend a follow-up discussion. Tell the team that AI generated the questions with your prompting.

Your colleagues will appreciate you raising the unspoken questions that are critical to success but that are not being raised real-time in group discussions.

Be the Catalyst

Use AI’s multi-modal capabilities to communicate in new ways. Take advantage of AI’s ability to be detached and fearless to challenge thinking. When you go beyond Google-style prompting, you don’t just meet expectations; you raise the bar for what AI-centric work can be.

Tried something similar? Comment to share how the unexpected workflow landed.