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Script a 30-second CEO voicemail to a key customer

  • For Executives
  • You practice Setting limits and rules
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Beginner

About this exercise

Write a voicemail script for the CEO to leave for Tom Becker, in plain text, under 70 words, in short spoken sentences. Open with exactly: Hi Tom, this is Priya Raman from Lumen Software. Then give the reason in one sentence, and a callback number said digit by digit, with the time window. Do not apologize more than once and do not give details of the incident beyond that one sentence. Close with exactly: Thank you, goodbye.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Missing exact lines. The AI writes its own greeting and goodbye. Try: Say: "Open with Hi Tom, this is Priya Raman from Lumen Software. Close with Thank you, goodbye."
  • Sharing internal detail. The AI explains the cause and the cost. Try: Say: "Do not give details beyond one sentence."
  • Number not spoken digit by digit. The AI writes 555-0187 only. Try: Say: "Say the number digit by digit, like five five five, zero one eight seven."
  • Over-apologizing. The AI apologizes three times. Try: Say: "Apologize at most once."
  • No time window. The AI says "call me back". Try: Say: "Include the callback window, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Pacific today."
  • Too long. The AI writes a speech. Try: Say: "Under 70 words, short spoken sentences."
  • Too long. The AI writes a speech. Try: Say: "Under 70 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 15 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Name and company first
  • Reason in one sentence
  • Digit by digit
  • Time window
  • Bans extra details

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