Excuses for Not Having Prepped — 30 Excuses That Actually Work

You opened the doc on the way to the call. Ten ways to admit it without admitting it.

Ten hand-picked excuses

01

I'd love to do this justice with prep; can we push 24 hours?

02

Happy to take an action to come back with a recommendation.

03

Let's walk through the doc together; I'll comment in real time.

04

I want to gather a couple of inputs before forming a view.

05

I'd rather respond async with a thoughtful version.

06

Saving us all time: I haven't read the doc yet, let's walk through.

07

Reframing as a working session rather than a decision meeting.

08

Let me listen first; I'll come back tomorrow with a written take.

09

Sharing my screen with the doc open; reading along with you.

10

I want to bring [colleague]'s input before committing; following up.

Or generate one

Click below for a fresh excuse.

FAQ

What's the most credible excuse for a meeting you didn't prepare for?

I'd love to do this justice with prep; can we push 24 hours? It works because it's specific, time-bounded, and doesn't require anyone to verify it.

Can I use the same excuse twice?

Sparingly. Pattern-match is the enemy of plausibility. Rotate from the list of 30 on this page.

Should I post a written update instead?

Almost always yes. A two-sentence async update earns more trust than showing up silent on camera.

More excuse libraries

This was, of course, a meeting that should have been an email.

Run the fake meeting simulator. Generate a bingo card. Be busy without being there.