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Reply to a training request with a partial yes

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

About this exercise

Reply to Dani as her manager in plain text, under 85 words. The first line is exactly: Subject: Your training request. Say yes to the course that fits the budget, say no to the other and give the reason with the numbers, and tell her when she can ask again. End with the line: Thanks for asking, Dani.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Approving both. The AI says yes to both to be kind. Try: Say: "Yes to the course within the $500 budget, no to the other."
  • No numbers in the reason. The AI says "budget constraints". Try: Say: "Give the reason with the numbers."
  • Promising next year. The AI says Leadership 101 is approved next year. Try: Say: "Tell her when she can ask again; don't promise approval."
  • Missing exact lines. The AI writes its own subject and sign-off. Try: Say: "First and last lines exactly as given."
  • Markdown. The AI bolds course names. 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 part instead, for example: "each line under 15 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Gives the subject line
  • Says yes to one, no to the other
  • Asks for numbers in the reason
  • Mentions when to ask again
  • Gives the ending line

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