Write a weekly status report that uses the right status color

About this exercise

You're the PM for a mobile app's new loyalty program, and leadership reads a 3-line status in the weekly roundup. You want exactly 3 lines labeled Status:, Risk:, and Need:, under 60 words, plain text. The Status line must start with the color your company's rules give (Green, Yellow or Red), using this week's real dates, and include nothing from the team's side chatter. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Not giving the color rule. The AI calls it Green because the team sounds confident, or Red because something slipped. Try: Add: "Use our color rules: a slip with the launch date safe is Yellow."
• Not giving the labels. The AI writes a paragraph or a bulleted list with headings. Try: Add: "Exactly 3 lines labeled Status:, Risk:, Need:."
• Burying the ask. The AI mentions legal as background instead of a clear request. Try: Add: "Need line: what I need from leadership and by when."
• Including side chatter. The AI adds the rename idea and office move to look thorough. Try: Add: "Skip side chatter. Plain text, no bold."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 60 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "each line under 10 words."

What a strong prompt includes

• Gives the labels
• Points to the color rule
• States the ask
• Skips chatter
• Limits the sentences

Practice this now ↑

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