Copilot Prompt Help

Microsoft Copilot is currently revolutionizing productivity by integrating AI into the world's most widely used software suite.

From generating content to analyzing data, Copilot's capabilities are impressive. But like any tool, its effectiveness hinges on how you use it.

Here's a guide to some of the best Copilot prompts, along with some do’s and don’ts in using Copilot to maximize its potential.

What Makes a Good Copilot Prompt?

Creating effective prompts for Copilot is a little science and a little art. The right prompt can save time and enhance productivity, while a poorly crafted one can lead to confusion or irrelevant results. Here are some do's and don'ts for crafting effective prompts:

Do:

• Be Specific: Clearly define what you need. Instead of asking for a general summary, specify the context.

Example: "Summarize the action items from the project kickoff meeting on July 10th."

• Use Natural Language: Write your prompts as if you’re speaking to a colleague.

Example: "Create a PowerPoint presentation on our new product for an executive audience."

• Include Context: Provide enough detail so Copilot understands the background.

Example: "Draft an email to the marketing team about the upcoming sales campaign, highlighting key dates and tasks."

• Ask Copilot for Prompt Help: Don’t hesitate to ask Copilot for assistance in refining your prompts for better results.

Example: “Act like a prompt engineer and write a prompt for yourself to accomplish [X].”

• Regenerate Response: If Copilot gives you a response that doesn’t make sense, or doesn’t align with your goal, simply ask it to try again. Include more specific instructions if necessary.

Example: “Can you try that again? I want you to give me the exact reason behind the change in billing structure?”

• Provide Tone: Copilot can mimic a given tone, making the response sound like the ser as much as possible.

Example: “The tone of your response should be short and succinct with a bit of humor.”

Don't:

• Be Vague: Avoid general or unclear prompts that lack direction.

Example: "Give me a summary" (without context).

• Overcomplicate: Keep prompts simple and direct to avoid confusion.

Example: "Could you perhaps provide a detailed analysis of the recent project status report and include any feedback from the team as well?"

Some of the Best Copilot Prompts

Copilot shines when you leverage its capabilities across different Microsoft applications. Here are some of the best prompts to help you get started:

Copilot In Teams:

"What work do I have going on with [name]?"

Mines chats, emails, SharePoint, and OneDrive, providing referenced links for all discovered content.

"Recap our meeting on [x] with notes and action items."

Keeps track of key topics and action items, so you stay focused without needing to re-listen to recordings.

“Describe the vibe of the meeting I missed today.”

Creates a summary of the tone of the meeting from those who attended.

“Organize my meetings into categories and provide a summary of each.”

Helps categorize meetings into different types (e.g., 1-on-1s, team meetings, client meetings) and summarizes each category.

“Update me [x] minutes before my next meeting.”

In the midst of some focus time? Copilot will remind you of your upcoming meeting at your suggested time, giving you the chance to adequately prepare.

Copilot In PowerPoint:

"Create a presentation on [topic] for a/an [x] audience."

Provides a visual starting point, allowing for customization based on the audience and purpose.

“Improve the clarity and conciseness of the text on [x] slide.”

Refine a slide or multiple slides to improve your presentation.

“What are the key takeaways from this presentation?”

Confirm your slide deck is conveying the main points you want it to convey.

Copilot In OneNote:

“Organize notes from the last client meeting into action items and follow-up tasks.”

Structures meeting notes for easy follow-up and action planning.

“Create an agenda for tomorrow’s partner meeting based on my prior meeting notes with [X]”

Generate a detailed agenda for upcoming meetings by pulling relevant points from previous discussions.

Copilot In Excel:

“Create a PivotTable based on [chosen data set].”

Ask a question about specific statistics from a dataset, which will contextually make a PivotTable.

“What is the total value of my inventory?”

“Visualize this table of data.”

Creates a nice-looking visual that is clear and conveys the information you want.

“Analyze [chosen data] and summarize five key trends.”

Copilot In Word:

"Help me write a [blog/report/job description/etc.] on [topic] for a/an [x] audience, using [x] data."

Further specify the topic, target audience, purpose, and data sources.

"Proofread the [quarterly financial report] and suggest edits to make [introduction] more direct."

Scans documents for typos and grammatical errors, suggesting improvements.

“Summarize this document into bullet points and generate insights.”

Sometimes you only need the general points from a long document, rather than every intricate detail. This prompt helps pull the main points from a document and put them in front of you.

Copilot In Outlook:

"Draft a [short] email to the [marketing] team, outlining the upcoming [sales campaign]."

Creates a well-structured draft based on the described purpose, recipient, and tone.

"Summarize this email chain into key points and action items."

Especially useful for quickly catching up on lengthy email threads.

"Schedule a meeting with [team name] to discuss [project name]."

Arranges a meeting, sending invitations with suggested times and agenda points.

"Find all emails relating to [topic/project/etc.]."

Searches Outlook for all messages relating to your desired subject.

"Flag all emails received in the last [week/month/etc.] from [person] as high priority."

Flags messages that you want to prioritize all at one time.

In the Copilot App:

"Find the latest about [project x]. What’s the current timeline? When are deliverables due?"

Acts as a personal assistant to get up-to-date project information.

"Tell me about [topic]." / “How does [concept] work?”

Retrieves relevant information and references for learning about new subjects.

“Quiz me on [topic].”

Test yourself on your knowledge on any particular subject.

"Give me ideas for a/an [campaign/product feature/team-building exercise/etc.]."

Brainstorms creative ideas based on the specified context.

There is an endless possibility of Copilot prompts to explore and tweak to get exactly what you need. We encourage you to explore Microsoft’s Copilot Lab to get even more prompt ideas.

Get the Most Out of Copilot

Ready to unlock the full potential of Microsoft Copilot? Our experts at HBS are here to help. Whether you need assistance with tailored prompts or advanced Copilot training, we’ve got you covered. Reach out to us today and transform how you work with Copilot!

Happy prompting!