Microsoft 365 Copilot
Quick Start Guide
Already have Copilot licenses? This guide shows you how to get far more value from them. Includes 28 ready-to-use prompts for each Microsoft app, common mistakes that waste licenses, and a team adoption checklist.
Scroll down to explore the full guide.
The Secret Sauce (GCSE Framework)
Most people get poor results from AI because they ask vague questions. The GCSE Framework fixes that by giving every prompt a clear structure.
Goal
What specific outcome do you want? (e.g., "Draft a proposal," not "Write something")
Context
Who is it for? What is the tone? (e.g., "For the CFO, confident tone")
Source
What data must it use? (e.g., "Ground this in the attached Q3 Report")
Expectations
What format do you need? (e.g., "Table format, under 200 words")
Word
The First Draft Accelerator
The Proposal Builder
"Draft a project proposal for [Project Name] aimed at [Client Name]. [Source] Use the outlines in the attached Meeting Notes file. [Expectations] Structure it with Executive Summary, Scope, and Pricing."
The Tone Shifter
"Rewrite this paragraph to sound more authoritative and less apologetic. Keep the same key facts but make the recommendation stronger."
The Converter (Doc to Slides)
"Summarise this document into a PowerPoint outline. Create 5 slide titles with 3 bullet points per slide for the speaker notes."
The FAQ Generator
"Scan this entire policy document and generate a list of 10 Frequently Asked Questions that new employees might ask, along with their answers."
The Devil's Advocate
"Review this strategy draft. Act as a sceptical investor and list the top 3 weaknesses or gaps in my argument."
The Process Mapper
"Read this description of our workflow and turn it into a numbered step-by-step list suitable for a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)."
The Jargon Buster
"Rewrite this technical update for a non-technical Board Member. Explain all acronyms and focus on business value rather than technical specs."
Excel
The Data Detective
The Trend Spotter
"Analyse this sales data table. Identify the top 3 trends regarding product performance over the last quarter."
The Variance Hunter
"Add a column to calculate the Month-over-Month variance as a percentage. Highlight any row where the variance exceeds 15%."
The Formula Fixer
"This formula in cell G5 is returning an error. Explain what is wrong and provide the corrected formula."
The 'What-If' Simulator
"Create a pivot table showing projected revenue if we increase the price of Product X by 10% but assume sales volume drops by 5%."
The Visualiser
"Create a Pareto Chart showing which 20% of our products are driving 80% of our revenue."
The Data Cleaner
"This address column is messy. Separate it into three distinct columns: City, State, and Postcode."
The Insight Generator
"Based on this dataset, what are the top 3 questions I should be asking in my next budget meeting?"
Teams
The Meeting Saviour
The Late Arrival
"I joined 10 minutes late. Summarise what I missed, specifically regarding the marketing budget discussion."
The Action Tracker
"List all action items assigned to me in this meeting, along with the due dates mentioned."
The Debate Settler
"Summarise the pros and cons discussed regarding Option A vs. Option B. Who supported which option?"
The 'Unresolved' List
"What questions were asked during this meeting that did not get a clear answer?"
The Catch-Up
"Summarise the last 20 messages in this chat thread. Focus on decisions made regarding the launch timeline."
The Sentiment Check
"Based on the transcript, how did the client react to the pricing proposal? Were they hesitant or positive?"
The Agenda Builder
"Draft a follow-up meeting agenda based on the unresolved topics from this call."
Outlook
The Inbox Triage
The Thread Summariser
"Summarise this long email chain. Who is the blocker, and what specific approval are we waiting for?"
The Soft Reply
"Draft a reply to this customer. Decline their request for a refund, but do it politely and offer a 10% discount on their next order as goodwill."
The Calendar Guardian
"Review my emails from Steve and extract any potential meeting dates he proposed. Check my calendar and draft a reply accepting the one where I am free."
The Tone Coach
"Does this draft reply sound too aggressive? Suggest a version that is firm but collaborative."
The Prioritiser
"Summarise the 5 most urgent emails in my inbox that require a decision today."
The Project Manager
"Based on this email update from the vendor, draft a status update for my internal team highlighting the delay."
The 'No'
"Draft a polite refusal to this sales enquiry. Keep it short and do not leave the door open for a follow-up."
The Adoption Checklist
Tools don't solve problems. Habits do.
The 'GCSE' Habit
- Save the GCSE Framework image to your desktop background.
- Rule: Never send a 'one-sentence prompt' again. Always add Context.
The 'Zero-Draft' Rule
- Rule: Never start a document from a blank cursor. Always use Copilot for V1.
- Run the 'Summarise this meeting' prompt for every call you attend.
The 'Buddy' System
- Share your 'Best Win' (a prompt that saved 30 mins) in the team chat.
- Share your 'Best Fail' (a prompt that broke) so others learn.