Use AI to translate your colleague's vague request into a clear action plan before you start working.
Someone sends you a message like 'Can you help with this project?' or 'We need to improve our process' — but you're not sure what they actually want from you. Before you reply with questions or start working on the wrong thing, use AI to analyze their request and generate a list of clarifying questions or a proposed plan. This helps you respond quickly and professionally, shows you're taking it seriously, and gets you both aligned without multiple back-and-forth emails.
Try this prompt today
“Act as a workplace collaboration expert. I received this request from a colleague: [paste their message here]. I want to make sure I understand what they need before I commit time to it. Based on their message, create two things: 1) A list of 3-5 clarifying questions I should ask them to make sure I understand the scope, timeline, and deliverables. 2) A short proposed plan of action that I can send back to confirm we're on the same page. Make the questions specific and helpful, and keep the proposed plan clear and realistic.”
February 23, 2026
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