Prompts to try in Copilot for Microsoft 365
Curious how to get more from your AI assistant? This video shows popular Microsoft 365 Copilot prompts your nonprofit can put to work right away, from drafting communications to preparing for meetings. Watch the video to see which Copilot prompts fit the way your organization works.
What is Copilot for Microsoft 365?
Copilot for Microsoft 365 is an AI assistant that works inside the Microsoft 365 apps you already use at work, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. It’s designed to help with everyday tasks like drafting content, summarizing information, and organizing ideas so you can focus more on higher-value work.
Instead of switching tools or starting from a blank page, you can stay in your usual workflow and ask Copilot to assist you directly where you’re working.
How can I get more value from Copilot prompts?
To get more value from Copilot, treat prompts like clear instructions to a colleague. The more context you provide, the better the output. For example, instead of saying, “Summarize this,” try:
- Be specific about the task: “Summarize this email thread into 3 bullet points with clear next steps.”
- Set the format: “Draft a one-page project update in a professional but conversational tone.”
- Define the audience: “Explain this for a non-technical stakeholder who needs to make a decision.”
Over time, you can reimagine routine tasks—status updates, meeting recaps, or first drafts—as prompts you give to Copilot, then refine the results instead of starting from scratch.
What are some practical prompts I can try today?
Here are some simple prompts you can try right away to see how Copilot can reshape your daily workflow:
- In Outlook: “Summarize this email thread and suggest a concise reply that confirms next steps.”
- In Word: “Create a one-page overview of this document highlighting key decisions and risks.”
- In Teams: “Generate a brief meeting recap with action items, owners, and due dates based on this meeting transcript.”
Starting with prompts like these helps you quickly understand where Copilot can save time and reduce manual effort in your regular workday.
Prompts to try in Copilot for Microsoft 365
published by CIO Main Street
CIO Main Street is a Computer, Network, and Information Technology Consulting company that brings Chief Information Officer services to Main Street America. At CIO Main Street, we speak Windows, we speak Mac, but best of all we speak Human!
We help organizations by asking a few questions. What do you want technology to do for you today? And what can you imagine it doing for you in the future? Notice that we do not say bits and bytes. Or hardware/software?
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