If you’ve ever walked into a meeting thinking,“I’ll just see where this goes,” you’ve already lost control. That’s because deals don’t move forward by accident. They move because a seller walks in with a clear objective.
This 10-minute workflow helps you do exactly that every time.
1. Define the win
Time: 1-2 minutes
What to do
Before you do anything else, answer:
- What stage is the deal in?
- What decision needs to be made?
- What is the ONE thing you need from this meeting?
AI in action
Ask: “Based on this opportunity summary, what should the primary meeting objective be?”
Use your live deal notes so AI can surface obstacles and suggest a clear next step.
Why it helps
You stop hosting update calls and start driving decisions.
2. Summarise the deal
Time: 2 minutes
What to do
Summarise five key facts about the deal:
- The business problem
- Financial or operational impact
- Key stakeholders
- Current solution or status quo
- Biggest known risk
AI in action
Paste your call notes or CRM summary: “Summarise this opportunity into 5 bullets: problem, impact, stakeholders, current solution, risks.”
Why it helps
You get instant clarity without having to read three pages of notes or scrambling to remember context.
3. Anticipate blockers
Time: 2 minutes
What to do
Ask yourself:
- What could stall this deal right now?
- Who hasn’t weighed in yet?
- What question might they ask that I’m not ready for?
Then, write down the single biggest risk and how you’ll address it in the meeting. Confirm that risk aligns with current deal signals, not just your intuition.
AI in action
Ask: “Based on this deal summary, what are the top three risks or objections I should expect?”
Why it helps
You project confidence because you’re ready for potential objections.
4. Plan your next move
Time: 2 minutes
What to do
Decide ahead of time:
- One insight you’ll bring. Example: “Companies in your space typically underestimate integration time by 30%.”
- One question you’ll ask. Example: “Who owns the final approval if this moves forward?”
- One commitment you’ll secure. Example: “Can we align on next steps by Friday?”
AI in action
Ask: “Give me three strategic questions to help advance this deal to the next stage.”
Why it helps
When you plan your next moves, meetings stay focused and decisive.
5. Practise
Time: 2 minutes
What to do
Practise the following things out loud (yes, really):
- Your opening
- Asking for the commitment
- Addressing the toughest objection
AI in action
Ask: “Simulate a skeptical CFO pushing back on budget.”
Why it helps
By responding out loud, you can tighten your language, remove fillers, and strengthen your delivery under pressure.
Before your next meeting
Don’t reread everything.
Don’t wing it.
Don’t overbuild slides.
Run the 10-minute workflow.
Validate risk using live deal signals.
Plan the move. Rehearse it. Execute it.
Ten focused minutes changes the quality of one meeting. One better meeting changes the trajectory of a deal. Enough better deals change your number.
If you’re serious about winning more consistently, see How Top Sellers Win in 2026.
