CP102 – Mastering Copilot: How to Write the Perfect Prompt

Introduction

Interacting with AI-powered tools like Microsoft Copilot can be incredibly powerful—if you know how to craft the right prompts. A prompt is simply the instruction you give to the AI to get the information or response you need. Think of it as giving directions to a smart assistant. The clearer and more detailed your instructions, the better the response you’ll get.

What Makes a Great Prompt?

To get the best results, follow these key ingredients of an effective prompt:

Know Your Goal

Before you type anything, be clear about what you want from Copilot. A vague prompt leads to a vague response.

✅ Example: “Summarize the key takeaways from my last team meeting.”
❌ Avoid: “What happened in the meeting?” (Too broad!)

Provide Context

Help Copilot understand the background of your request. The more details you provide, the better the response.

✅ Example: “Summarize my last team meeting notes to prepare for a follow-up with my manager, Anna.”
❌ Avoid: “Give me a summary.” (What summary? For whom? Why?)

Reference a Source

If you want Copilot to focus on specific information, mention it explicitly.

✅ Example: “Focus on the questions Anna asked and any action items she assigned.”
❌ Avoid: “Give me the important parts.” (What’s important to you may not be obvious to Copilot.)

Set Expectations

Let Copilot know how you want the response structured—such as tone, length, or format.

✅ Example: “Summarize in 3 bullet points using simple language.”
❌ Avoid: “Just tell me what I need to know.” (Copilot doesn’t know your preference!)

Putting It All Together

Here’s an example of a well-structured prompt:

📝 “Tell me what happened in this meeting to prepare me for a follow-up meeting with my manager, Anna. Focus on the questions Anna asked and any action items she assigned. Please use simple language and summarize in 3 bullet points.”

This prompt ensures Copilot provides clear, relevant, and structured responses.

Prompting Dos & Don’ts

Follow these best practices to get the most out of Copilot:

✅ Do: ✔ Be clear and specific (What, Who, Why, How)
✔ Keep it conversational—treat Copilot like a helpful colleague
✔ Provide examples or keywords for the AI to focus on
✔ Use proper grammar and punctuation for better accuracy
✔ Be polite—positive prompts often get better responses
✔ Review Copilot’s output for accuracy and make necessary edits

❌ Don’t: ✘ Avoid vague prompts—Copilot needs clear direction
✘ Don’t overload one prompt—break complex requests into steps
✘ Skip editing—always adjust Copilot’s response to match your style
✘ Use slang or jargon—keep prompts professional and simple
✘ Change topics abruptly—start a “New Topic” if you need a fresh request

By following these tips, you’ll get faster, more useful, and higher-quality responses from Copilot. Happy prompting! 🚀

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