Answer a director's question by email without promising a result

About this exercise

A director, Priya Shah, asked whether the Q4 launch will hit its date. Write the reply in plain text, subject first, under 100 words. Sentence 1 gives the current plan date. Sentence 2 gives the biggest open risk. Sentence 3 says what you will report and by when. Do not say the date is guaranteed, do not use the words confident, definitely or on track, and end with exactly: I will send an update on Friday Dec 6.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Over-promising. The AI says 'we are confident'. Try: Say: "Don't use confident, definitely or on track; no guarantees."
• Old plan date. The AI uses Dec 9. Try: Say: "The plan date is Dec 16."
• Wrong ending. The AI ends with 'Best regards'. Try: Say: "End with the exact line."
• Naming the minor risk. The AI leads with the sick team member. Try: Say: "Biggest open risk only."
• Markdown. The AI bolds. Try: Say: "Plain text."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each sentence: "each under 25 words."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each part instead, for example: "each line under 12 words."

What a strong prompt includes

• Three sentences
• Biggest risk
• Bans
• Exact ending
• No guarantee

Practice this now ↑

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