Library › Leadership AI › Managers and team leads

Escalate a staffing gap to your director with three options

  • For Managers and team leads
  • You practice Setting limits and rules
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

Write an email escalating a staffing gap to your director, Neha. Plain text, subject first, under 140 words. Structure: one sentence naming the problem and impact with a number; Option 1, Option 2, Option 3 on their own lines each with cost and effect; a line starting "I recommend" naming one option; a final line: I need your decision by Thursday Nov 14. Use only the notes and do not blame anyone.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Old backlog. The AI uses 280. Try: Say: "Backlog is 310 now."
  • Missing costs. The AI says 'cheaper' without numbers. Try: Say: "Give cost and effect for each option."
  • Blaming. The AI blames HR for slow hiring. Try: Say: "Don't blame anyone."
  • No recommendation. The AI lists options only. Try: Say: "A line starting I recommend and one option."
  • Markdown. The AI bolds options. 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 line: "each line 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

  • Subject
  • Options
  • Recommend
  • Final line
  • No blame

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises