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Turn down a partner's integration request gracefully
Practice: Getting the tone right. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
A partner company asked you to build a two-way integration with their CRM, and you're saying no for now. Write the email in under 90 words, plain text, saying no clearly in the first two sentences and pointing them to the public API and the partner directory they can use today. It goes outside the company, so share no internal numbers, team names or roadmap details.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Burying the no. AI writes three warm sentences before it gets to the answer, or never says no plainly. Try: Add: "Say no clearly in the first two sentences."
- 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: "4 sentences, each under 18 words."
- Leaving them with nothing. The AI declines without offering the path they can take today. Try: Add: "Point them to the public API docs and the partner directory, with links."
- Explaining with internal facts. To sound honest, the AI shares team size, customer counts or future plans. Try: Add: "External email: no internal numbers, team details or roadmap."
- Formatting a business email. The AI adds a subject line, bold and bullet points. Try: Add: "Plain text, 2 short paragraphs, no bold or bullets."
What a strong prompt includes
- Puts the no early
- Offers the self-serve path
- Keeps internal facts out
- Sets the tone
- Sets a word limit
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