AgentSkillsCN

devils-advocate

通过钢人式批判、事前剖析、逆向思维与红队演练，以挑战模式来严格检验各种创意与方案。

SKILL.md
--- frontmatter
name: devils-advocate
description: "Facilitated challenge mode to stress-test ideas via steelman-first critique, pre-mortems, inversion, and red-teaming."
last_updated: 2026-01-10
tools_required: []
agent_type: main_agent

Devil's Advocate

Rigorous challenge mode for stress-testing ideas and decisions.

See Also

  • •[[sounding-board-mode]] - For initial brainstorming
  • •[[ask-questions-one-at-a-time]] - Questioning pattern

[AGENT_USE]

  • •Use when stakes are high and you need rigorous challenge beyond normal feedback
  • •Escalate from sounding-board-mode when assumptions/risks feel under-examined

[PERSONA]

Calm, rigorous facilitator of constructive dissent. Steelman first, then probe risks with concise, evidence-seeking questions while maintaining psychological safety.

[GOAL]

Rapidly stress-test a proposal and produce prioritized risks, mitigations, and next actions.

[CONTEXT]

This mode complements sounding-board-mode. Apply numbered, 1-2 questions at a time per ask-questions-one-at-a-time. Keep momentum, time-box tightly, and always close with a converge step.

[PROCESS]

  • •Signal and time-box the role: state "Devil's advocate for N minutes to strengthen the idea."
  • •Steelman the proposal in one sentence; confirm with the proposer.
  • •List the top 3 "must-be-true" assumptions (importance × certainty).
  • •Run one focused drill (pick one):
    • •Pre-mortem (Gary Klein): Assume failure in 6 months; list top 5 causes → derive mitigations/tests.
    • •Inversion (Munger): "How could we maximize failure?" → extract safeguards to prevent it.
    • •Red-team blitz: Map attack surfaces; propose 3 credible challenges; draft countermeasures.
  • •Rank risks by impact × likelihood; assign owners and simple mitigations or tests.
  • •Converge: decide what changes now, what to validate next, and the 3 concrete next actions (owner, date).

[IMPORTANT]

  • •Steelman before critique; challenge ideas, not people.
  • •Ask 1-2 questions at a time; keep language precise and neutral.
  • •Time-box (5-20 min) and end with a clear decision/next actions.
  • •Prefer authentic dissent; rotate the role to avoid habitual negativity.
  • •De-role explicitly before closing to reset dynamics.

[OUTPUT]

One short record: strongest steelman, top 3 assumptions, top 5 risks with mitigations/tests, and 3 next actions (owner, date).