deft /dɛft/ adj. neatly skillful and quick.
Make every call count.
deft listens in and gives you one line, only when it matters: a point you skipped, an opening you missed, pushback to answer. Nothing else.
Early access for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
“…since the reorg, nobody's sure who signs off on process changes.”
You walk in with a plan. The conversation drifts anyway.
You forget to ask who signs off.
You find out afterward that someone else had the final say.
You recommend before you understand.
The other side can tell you haven't heard the whole problem.
You freeze on pushback.
You had a good answer. It arrived an hour after the call.
You’re on camera, listening to the other person. Help has to land in a glance, or it’s a distraction.
How it works
Write your plan.
List what you need to cover, the phases of the conversation, what has to come before what, and how you'll answer the pushback you expect. Keep one plan per kind of call.
Have the conversation.
deft listens, ticks off each point as you cover it, and tracks the phase you're in and how much you're talking.
Get one line, at the right moment.
A nudge appears only when it would change what you say next.
Five things worth interrupting you for.
Pushback
Someone raised a concern. deft shows you how to respond in the moment.
They said · sales call“That's more than we budgeted.”
Anchor on the hours they said they lose each week. Then offer a smaller first rollout.
Missed
You moved on without covering something you needed.
They said · user interview“Okay, so what would you build next?”
Before you answer: you haven't asked how they handle this today.
Timing
You raised a point before the groundwork for it was laid.
They said · client call“Sure, walk us through the options.”
They haven't named who decides yet. Hold the recommendation.
Now
They just opened the door to something you wanted to say.
They said · client call“Since the reorg, nobody's sure who signs off.”
Ask who owns the rollout.
Drift
The conversation is wandering away from your goal.
They said · hiring interview“…and the new office has this rooftop…”
Eight minutes on the office move. Back to question four.
deft notices far more than it tells you.
Most meeting assistants flood you with transcripts and suggestions. deft holds a nudge back if it can wait, if you’re already on it, or if it wouldn’t change what you say next.
- 05:31heard
“…small talk about the offsite…”
- 05:33held
Drift · Under two minutes, normal for an opening.
- 05:48held
Missed · “Success in 90 days” is still open, but discovery isn't over.
- 05:55held
Talk time 41% · Under your 50% limit.
- 06:09heard
“…since the reorg, nobody's sure who signs off on process changes.”
- 06:12sent
Now · Ask who owns the rollout.
Walk into every call prepared.
Consultants
Client discovery, stakeholder interviews, workshops, readouts.
“You're into options before they've named who decides.”
Founders and sellers
Discovery calls, demos, fundraising pitches.
“That's more than we budgeted.” Anchor on the hours they lose.
Researchers
User interviews that cover every question without leading.
“You're wrapping up. Ask about the last time it went wrong.”
Account managers
Quarterly reviews and renewals.
“Looking at alternatives.” Ask what prompted the review.
Recruiters
Structured interviews, the same way every time.
“You're at 46% talk time. Let them answer.”
During the call and after.
A live checklist
Grouped by phase, ticking off as you go.
A talk-time meter
Warns you when you're talking too much.
An end-of-call scorecard
What you covered, what you missed, and the pushback you heard and when.
Docks beside your call
Always on top, next to Zoom, Meet, or Teams. Runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Your data, your call.
Hidden from screen share
The overlay stays invisible to the people you're talking with.
It shows its reasoning
An optional trace shows what the coach heard, what it decided, and every nudge it chose not to send, with the reason.
Questions, answered.
What is deft?
deft is a live conversation coach for calls. It listens in and gives you one line, only when it matters: a point you skipped, an opening you missed, or pushback you should answer. The rest of the time it says nothing.
Why is it called deft?
"Deft" means neatly skillful and quick. That's what deft helps you be on a call: one well-timed line, with no fumbling.
How does deft work?
You write a plan with the points to cover, the phases of the conversation and the pushback you expect. During the call, deft listens, ticks off each point as you cover it, and tracks the phase you're in and how much you're talking. It shows a single line only when it would change what you say next.
What kinds of nudges does deft give?
Five kinds: Pushback (someone raised a concern, so deft shows you how to respond), Missed (you moved on without covering something you needed), Timing (you raised a point before the groundwork was laid), Now (they just opened the door to something you wanted to say), and Drift (the conversation is wandering away from your goal).
When does deft stay quiet?
deft holds a nudge back when it can wait, when you're already on it, or when it wouldn't change what you say next. It shows no running transcript, never nudges mid-sentence, doesn't remind you of points you've already covered, and shows one line at a time.
Who is deft for?
Anyone who runs structured conversations: consultants running client discovery and stakeholder interviews, founders and sellers on discovery calls and demos, researchers running user interviews, account managers on quarterly reviews and renewals, and recruiters running structured interviews.
Which platforms and call apps does deft work with?
deft is a desktop overlay that docks beside your call in Zoom, Meet or Teams. Early access is available for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Can I see why deft did or didn't give a nudge?
Yes. An optional reasoning trace shows what deft heard, what it decided, and every nudge it chose not to send, with the reason.
How do I get access to deft?
deft is in early access. Join the waitlist at deft.io and we'll write when there's a seat for you.
Be deft on your next call.
deft is in early access. Join the waitlist and we’ll invite you as seats open.