People look stupid in meetings when they’re asked questions they didn’t prepare for.

“I didn’t check that.”

“I’m not sure what those numbers mean.”

“I’ll talk to finance.”

Are all different ways of saying, “I did not prepare for that question.”

That isn’t a bad thing (most of the time). One reason for meetings is to open up your department to other smart people in your organization so they can help reveal your blind spots.

But if you want to be a killer employee, ask, ““What are the five questions someone might ask that could [mess me up]?” And then “Add slides answering those questions to the appendix. That’s your body armor.”

If you do this, and someone still asks a question you didn’t prepare for, make a mental note and prepare for that—and other things like it—next time.