Build your first AI workflow: lesson 5 of 10

Hand-Offs in a Fixed Shape

A hand-off is what one step passes to the next. Fix its shape, the same columns or the same list every time, and the next step always knows what it is getting. A check can read it, too.

Step oneA table, samecolumns every time:item | owner | dateStep two
Step one
The first step finishes its job, for example reading a page of meeting notes.

What Makes a Good Hand-Off

  1. 1The same shape every timeA table with fixed columns, not a paragraph that changes from run to run.
  2. 2Said in the promptThe step is told exactly what to hand back, so the shape is a rule and not a hope.
  3. 3The source stays closeCarry the line each item came from, so a check can look it up later.
  4. 4Only what the next step needsHand back the table and nothing around it. Extra commentary is one more thing the next step has to sort out.

Which Hand-Off Works?

Each job passes work from one step to the next. Pick the hand-off that serves the next step better.

  1. 1

    Step one finds every action in a meeting’s notes. Step two writes a reminder for each owner.

  2. 2

    Step one pulls numbers out of a report. A check will confirm each one against the report.

  3. 3

    Step one lists the open questions from a meeting. Step two assigns each question to a person.

  4. 4

    Step one sorts survey comments into themes. Step two counts the comments in each theme.

0 of 4 answered.

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Go Deeper

Hand-offs, the part guideWhat step one hands to step two in a real template, word for word.Turn meeting notes into actionsThe template behind the first case, with its tables from step to step.Step through a workflowWatch each hand-off as the meeting notes move through the steps.