Give your first job

A good assignment sounds like something you would say to a capable new employee.

Include the parts that matter

1. The result: Say what should be finished.
2. The source: Name the inbox, calendar, file, or connected account to use.
3. The rules: Include anything that must be present or left alone.
4. The finish line: Say where you want to see the result.

Example

When a new email with “estimate request” arrives in Gmail, read the full thread and prepare a friendly reply in my voice. Include the scheduling link from our company knowledge. Save it as a draft in the same Gmail thread.

Improve the job with feedback

Respond to the result as you would to a person on your team. Say “Use bullets for the open items,” “always include the project number,” or “make customer replies warmer and shorter.” Add a lasting preference to the employee instructions when you want it used every time.

Run the job once in chat before you put it on a schedule. A real result is easier to improve than a long instruction written in advance.