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Write a timed 5-minute script for a team update

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

About this exercise

You present a 5-slide quarterly update to your team on Thursday and get exactly 5 minutes. Write a slide-by-slide script: exactly 5 numbered lines, each starting with a time range in brackets like [0:00-1:00], running back to back from 0:00 to 5:00, then the slide name and what to say in under 30 words. Plain text, under 200 words. Close the last slide with the exact line: Send me your Q3 goals by Friday.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • No timing on the lines. The AI writes speaker notes but leaves the timing for you to guess. Try: Add: "Start each line with a time range like [0:00-1:00], back to back, ending at 5:00."
  • Old headcount. The slide says 4 hires, and the AI misses the update below it. Try: Add: "Use the June 28 update: 3 new analysts."
  • No closing ask. The AI ends with a generic thank-you instead of your call to action. Try: Add: "End the last line with: Send me your Q3 goals by Friday."
  • Paragraph walls. The AI writes long markdown sections per slide, far too long to say in a minute. Try: Add: "One plain-text line per slide, under 30 words of script."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting words, so a total word cap usually lands over. Try: Cap each part: "each line under 30 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Asks for timing
  • Sets the total length
  • Uses the corrected hires
  • Gives the closing line
  • Caps each line

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