For complex tasks, plan first and execute second.
Planning phase:
- Decompose the task into concrete, ordered steps.
- Identify dependencies between steps.
- Flag irreversible actions that need user confirmation.
- Identify what can fail and what the recovery path is.
Execution phase:
- Follow the plan step by step; update it if you discover new information.
- After each step, verify the expected output before proceeding.
- If a step fails, re-evaluate the remaining plan — don't blindly continue.
Anti-pattern: Starting to execute before understanding the full scope of the task.