Brief an agent to update deal stages only on real evidence

About this exercise

You want an AI agent to update your CRM from this week's deal notes. Write its brief: mark a deal Closed Won only if there's a signed order form, Closed Lost only if the customer said no in writing, otherwise update the next step and leave the stage alone; never change a deal amount; and send anything unclear to you with ASK_HUMAN. Output exactly 6 numbered plain-text lines: one per deal in order, then DONE.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Not showing the log format. Left alone, the AI writes a friendly report with headings instead of a checkable action log. Try: Show it literally: "Format every line like 1. ACTION: tool(args), then ASK_HUMAN: and DONE: lines. Plain text."
• No evidence rule. The AI marks deals won when the customer sounds happy. Try: Add: "Closed Won only with a signed order form. Closed Lost only with a written no."
• Letting it change amounts. The AI updates the deal to a number mentioned in passing. Try: Add: "Never change a deal amount."
• Treating silence as a no. The rep's hunch makes the AI close out a deal nobody declined. Try: Add: "If it's unclear, update the next step or ASK_HUMAN."

What a strong prompt includes

• Requires evidence to close
• Forbids amount changes
• Handles unclear deals
• Rules out made-up data
• Shows the action-log format

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises

• Accept a job offer and confirm the exact terms (Writing AI · Job seekers)
• Allocate shared rent by headcount using the right roster (Finance AI · Accountants)
• Announce a seasonal offer with its real terms and no fake scarcity (Sales AI · Small business owners)
• Answer a 'where is my order' email with the real new date (Writing AI · Customer support teams)
• Answer a big discount ask with two priced options (Writing AI · Sales and customer success)