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Turn a messy Slack thread into a five-step approval SOP

  • For Accountants
  • You practice Showing an example of what you want
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Beginner

About this exercise

You're writing the vendor invoice approval SOP from a thread where the rules changed midway. Write a prompt for exactly 5 numbered steps in plain text, each starting with a verb and under 22 words. Step 3 must state the approval limits using the current figures only. Don't include anything about the old process.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Using the old threshold. The AI cites $2,500 from the first message. Try: Say: "Use Mira's Oct 1 figures only; ignore the Sep 29 message."
  • Dropping the exceptions. The AI covers the happy path and skips no-PO and AP's role. Try: List them: "no-PO to controller, AP enters but never approves, 3-day ping, day-5 escalation."
  • Wrong step count. The AI writes 8 steps with sub-bullets. Try: Say: "Exactly 5 numbered steps, starting with 1."
  • Markdown extras. The AI adds a bold title and intro. Try: Say: "Plain text, no intro, no notes."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Sets exactly five steps
  • Starts steps with verbs
  • Uses current limits only
  • Lists key exceptions
  • Caps length

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