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Write a review summary that stays inside the review period

Practice: Keeping the AI to your sources. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

You're writing the summary box of Leo's annual review, which covers Jan 1 to Dec 31 this year. Write exactly 3 bullets labeled Strength:, Strength: and Growth:, each with one specific example from your notes, plain text, under 75 words. Use only events from this review period, and keep the growth area about behavior, not personality.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Asking for 'a review'. The AI writes several paragraphs with headings and ratings. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 3 bullets: Strength:, Strength:, Growth:. 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 bullet instead: "each bullet under 20 words."
  • Going outside the period. The 2025 mistake is in your notes, and the AI treats it as evidence. Try: Add: "Only events from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2026. Skip the Nov 2025 item."
  • Personality in the growth area. The AI may borrow your impression and call him disorganized. Try: Add: "Growth: the missed carrier calls, as behavior. No personality words."
  • Generic strengths. The AI writes 'strong team player' without an example. Try: Add: "Each bullet has one specific example with a number."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Shows the labels
  • Limits to the period
  • Behavior, not personality
  • Asks for examples
  • Sets a word limit

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