The parts of a workflow

Steps

A step is one small job for the AI, with one clear prompt. A workflow is a short chain of steps, each one handing its result to the next.

YournotesPull outdecisionsList theactionsTheresult
Start
Start with your material. Here, a page of meeting notes.

A real example

Three steps, one job each

From the template: Turn meeting notes into decisions and actions
  1. Step 1: Pull out decisionsFind every decision in the notes, and copy the line each one comes from.
  2. Step 2: List the actionsFind every action, with its owner and date, and flag any that are missing one.
  3. Step 3: Note open questionsList the questions the meeting left open, and who should answer each.

What makes a good step

  1. 1One jobA step that pulls out decisions does not also write the summary. Ask for one thing at a time.
  2. 2Named for the jobPull out decisions. List the actions. The name says what the step does.
  3. 3Easy to fixWhen something goes wrong you can see which step did it, and change just that one.

Templates that use this part

  1. Write a summary of a long document4 steps: Map the document into parts, Summarize each part, Merge into one summary, Tighten the summary.
  2. Draft three versions and pick the best3 steps: Write three versions, Rate each version against your criteria, Keep the winner and say why.
  3. Check whether a draft reads like AI, and fix it3 steps: Scan for tells of AI writing, Rewrite the marked sentences, Scan again.
  4. Review a draft before you send it3 steps: Writing pass, Substance pass, Ranked fix list.
  5. Turn meeting notes into decisions and actions3 steps: Pull out decisions, List the actions, Note open questions.
  6. Find themes in comments or interview notes3 steps: Label each comment, Group the labels into themes, Count each theme and pick two quotes.
  7. Scope a job before you start5 steps: List everything the job could involve, Decide what is in, out or later, Define done for each piece that is in, Decide when to stop, Write the one-page scope note.
  8. Hand off a task to someone else6 steps: Sort the pieces, List what to have ready, Write the plain steps, Sweep for sensitive information, Read it as someone new, Close the gaps.
  9. Compare options and get a recommendation5 steps: Read each option, Build the comparison table, Drop the factors where options tie, Recommend one option, Argue the runner-up's case.
  10. Build your "how I like work done" file4 steps: Turn your answers into rules, Try each rule on your sample task, Fix the rules that failed, Write the file you paste into your AI tool.