AI Agents for Leaders Who Have No Time to Learn AI · Section 1 · Exercise

Improve One Follow-Up (Optional Exercise)

An optional exercise from lecture 1.4. No saved note is needed to continue the course.

Arun Nagarathanam · 20 Oct 2026 Worksheet · 5 of 42 in this course

Section 1 · Lecture 1.4 · Optional

The meeting excerpt

This optional exercise is prepared fictional material from the Northstar case. The draft and interview answer are authored teaching material, not an observed AI result.

Friday's meeting

Alex	What could stop us starting Tuesday?
Priya	We need the client's role list before we can request the right access approvals.
Jordan	Our operations manager is reviewing the list. I can send it by 3 p.m. today, but I need their confirmation before I promise who needs each level of access.

The meeting is Friday, October 2, 2026. The client review is Monday, October 5, at 11 a.m. Asia/Kolkata.

If you choose to inspect the excerpt, notice what Jordan promised, what it depends on, and what Alex wants a message to Jordan to achieve.

Try it

Optional comparison

Message · Generic request to Jordan

Please send me a progress update.

Shown only for comparison

Message · Alex's purposeful request

Before Monday's morning review, please tell me what is preventing progress and whether you need a decision from me.

A message to Jordan

You can try revising the generic request to Jordan, think through the change, use AI, or read the sample directly to inspect the reasoning. If you use AI, judge whether the proposed wording serves Alex's purpose.

When you compare a request, check

Can Jordan identify the requested information?
Is the relevant occasion clear?
Is the purpose of the reply clear?

A reply to the generic request could list finished tasks and still leave Alex unsure whether the role list needs a decision. A more polished greeting alone will not supply the missing request.

Compare

Sample answer

Open the sample answer

“Jordan, before Monday's morning review, please tell me what is preventing progress, including whether the role list is still waiting on your operations manager, and whether you need a decision from me.”

Different wording passes when the recipient, blocker, decision needed, timing and purpose remain clear. “Nothing is blocked and no decision is needed” is also a useful reply when true. Do not invent a new deadline for the role list, which Jordan promised for 3 p.m. Friday pending the operations manager's confirmation.

The sample improves the action requested, not just the tone. The reusable preference is to make a request and its purpose clear. Northstar's Monday review stays in the meeting facts.