The right ingredients for better prompts

✅ How to

1. 1Four ingredients for a prompt that hits the markA good Copilot prompt relies on four complementary ingredients: Goal, Context, Source, Expectations. Together they give Copilot everything it needs to get it right the first time. The clearer and more complete your prompt, the more relevant the answer.
   
2. 2Goal: what answer do you expect?State clearly the result you want. Example: “Generate 3 to 5 bullets to prepare me for a meeting with client X to discuss their Phase 3+ brand campaign.” Tip: be precise about the desired result, type of content, number of points, tone or level of detail.
3. 3Context: why and for whom?Explain why you need it and who is concerned. Example: “Meeting with the marketing team and client X.” Tip: provide the key context, project, objective, target audience, period involved.
4. 4Source: what should Copilot rely on?Indicate the information sources or samples Copilot should use. Example: “Use the emails and Teams chats since June, plus the documents shared in the Campaigns 2024 folder on SharePoint.” Tip: cite precise, reliable sources, tools, folders, files, reports, internal data.
5. 5Expectations: how should Copilot respond?Specify the expected shape and behavior. Example: “Use plain language so I can get up to speed quickly. Structure it as clear bullets and add a short final summary.” Tip: specify the tone, format, style or level of detail, simple, concise, structured, action-oriented.
6. 6In short: assemble the fourGoal + Context + Source + Expectations = a complete prompt, hence a relevant answer. And once you're happy with the result, ask Copilot to write you the “perfect prompt” that would have produced this result directly, then save it to reuse next time.

Generate 3 to 5 bullets to prepare me for a meeting with client X to discuss their « Phase 3+ » brand campaign. Context: meeting with the marketing team and client X. Source: use the emails and Teams chats since June, plus the documents shared in the « Campaigns 2024 » folder on SharePoint. Expectations: use plain language so I can get up to speed quickly, structure it as clear bullets and add a short final summary.

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