At Microsoft, we’ve requested our communications crew to be innovators of AI. To discover and experiment with how we will all use it in our on a regular basis work. We’ve urged the crew to not neglect their distinctive experience and worth — the artwork of communications — however to welcome some science into the method, to be a frontrunner on this new stage of communications.

So, for the previous few months we’ve been experimenting with Copilot for Microsoft 365, which is now usually obtainable for enterprises. We’re utilizing Copilot in Groups to story mine with spokespeople and anticipate protection after interviews. We’re utilizing Copilot in Phrase to begin blogs and draft plans. We’re utilizing chat to check messages, brainstorm and increase our considering. And Copilot in PowerPoint helps us create decks that drive readability and talk our imaginative and prescient.

We’ve been feeling the affect in our day-to-day however needed to quantify it — so we did a little bit of analysis ourselves. Utilizing the identical methodology featured in our newest Work Pattern Index, we surveyed 80 individuals from our comms and advertising group and located that— like most data employees —many workers undergo from assembly (70%) and knowledge overload (86%) each day, so it’s not shocking that 80% battle with having sufficient focus time every day.

The excellent news? AI helps. In line with the survey:

• 86% say Copilot makes them extra productive and 81% say it helps them full duties quicker.
• 89% say Copilot helps jump-start the inventive course of and 78% say Copilot improves the standard of their work.
• 70% say Copilot reduces time spent on duties they don’t take pleasure in; particularly, 76% say Copilot reduces psychological effort on mundane duties and 71% say Copilot reduces time spent trying to find info.

And essentially the most thrilling one for me: 84% say they don’t wish to return to working with out Copilot. And I really feel the identical manner. 😊

Now, it’s nonetheless early days and the instruments aren’t excellent. However to assist different communicators think about how AI can enhance their work days, listed below are 5 methods the crew and I are utilizing AI to be extra productive, inventive, and to make the work we perform a little extra enjoyable.

1. Conferences and interviews
That assembly overwhelm we really feel isn’t simply fixed back-to-backs; it’s additionally frequent double-booking and conflicts (in case your calendar is something like mine). Copilot in Groups makes it simpler to prioritize your most necessary conferences and compensate for these you’ve missed — with out having to look at the complete recording. Some prompts:

• Summarize what was mentioned within the assembly briefly bullet factors.
• Have been there any motion gadgets for me?
• Have been there any unresolved selections?

Throughout or after a gathering, Copilot may assist you to recall what was mentioned extra precisely, observe an excellent quote or element for a narrative, consider complicated matters, or anticipate protection following an interview. For instance, you’ll be able to ask:

• What was the precise suggestions <X> shared concerning the comms plan that was introduced?
• The engineer we spoke with shared an fascinating anecdote about <X> that I’d like to incorporate in a narrative I’m engaged on. Are you able to remind me precisely what she mentioned?
• Put the professionals and cons of what the crew is discussing concerning the announcement technique in a desk and advocate a plan of action.
• After a press interview, ask, “What do you assume the reporter will take away from this dialog? Use the transcript as a base doc.

2. Message testing
Readability is essential in communications after all, however it’s maybe much more essential in one other setting: the army. Napoleon, the well-known basic, is understood for bringing a corporal to conferences when his generals have been presenting battle plans. He would ask the corporal, “Having heard these plans, would you realize what to do?” If the reply was no, he would ask the generals to re-write their plans.

What does this need to do with AI? I’ve been utilizing Copilot as my corporal to supply contemporary perspective. Some examples:

• I’ll feed Copilot a weblog and ask it to articulate the three key messages; in the event that they’re off, I’ll refine.
• I’ll ask Copilot to poke holes in an announcement we’re making on a tough subject, like sustainability or accountable AI. I’ll ask it issues like, “For those who needed to disrupt this argument, what would you say?”

With Copilot as my brainstorming companion, I can establish blind spots, sharpen our positions, and increase my considering so we’re clear and considerate in our positionin

3. Making ready spokespeople
To assist our spokespeople put together for press interviews, we’re utilizing Copilot to anticipate questions and develop FAQs. Some instance prompts:

• Faux you’re a tech reporter. Share the highest 5 questions you’d have for me if introduced the knowledge on this narrative doc: /[X].
• Faux you’re a PR individual making ready an government for an interview with a prime tech reporter, <X reporter> at <X outlet>. She’s been writing about AI fairly a bit. What questions do you assume the reporter will ask a tech government in an interview about how AI will change work?
• I’m doing a press interview about <X> what are the highest three questions somebody unfamiliar with the matter would have on the subject?
• Assist me draft responses to this record of questions <X>. Solutions must be temporary, however conversational in tone.

4. Writing comms plans and blogs
Now, many communicators are employed due to their distinctive capability to jot down. And as a author myself, I can let you know that ability isn’t going anyplace — however I’ve discovered Copilot to be helpful in serving to me get began, preserve going, and refine my content material.  It’s serving to me do what I do greatest — even higher.

Some examples:

• In Phrase, I’ll spotlight a paragraph in a plan or weblog that I’m getting hung up on and ask Copilot to counsel a couple of different methods to jot down it.
• Others on my crew use Copilot to draft a plan for an upcoming announcement. They’ll give it a mind dump of the weather they wish to see within the plan corresponding to what they’re asserting, key messages, timelines, press targets, and spokespeople. Now, it doesn’t produce a full plan end-to-end, however it offers them a strong begin.
• After I’m on the finish of a weblog and am caught for an ending, I prefer to ask Copilot to jot down a brief, however compelling closing paragraph. And since we’re utilizing Copilot for Microsoft 365, delicate info, like launch plans and dates, stay protected.
• Lastly, when the weblog or LinkedIn publish is finished and I’ve used up all my creativity and nonetheless want a title or headline, I can ask for 5 headlines, then leap off from there.

5. Creating shows
Typically the way in which we current our concepts is simply as necessary because the precise content material. So, it’s no shock that considered one of my crew’s favourite Copilot use instances is popping a Phrase doc, like a PR plan, right into a PowerPoint presentation.

Merely open a brand new presentation in PowerPoint, choose the Copilot icon within the ribbon and as soon as the facet pane pops up, click on “Create presentation from file…”  Choose the doc and let Copilot go to work constructing a deck.

From there, you’ll be able to ask Copilot so as to add an finish slide, make all of the titles a sure font and coloration, or ask it to replace one of many pictures to {a photograph} that’s extra to your liking. It’s massively minimize down the time it takes my crew to construct decks — that means they’ll focus extra on content material and fewer on copy-pasting.

Like all new device or behavior the secret’s observe, observe, observe. If you have already got Copilot for Microsoft 365, you can begin experimenting with the prompts above at present — or take a look at out a few of my communications prompts for Copilot in Bing without spending a dime. You may also take a look at this text on WorkLab that exhibits you the best way to write an excellent immediate.

I’ll preserve working towards too — and sharing alongside the way in which.

fxs

Tags: AI, Copilot for Microsoft 365, Prompts