Today, find out what your company's position on AI tools is. Three places to look, in order: (1) search your employee handbook or intranet for "AI" or "artificial intelligence," (2) ask your manager, or (3) email IT. Here's a message you can adapt:
"Hi — I'm interested in using AI tools (like ChatGPT or Copilot) to help with drafting and summarizing in my work. Does the company have a policy on which tools are approved and what kind of information can be used with them? Want to make sure I stay within the lines. Thanks!"
Whatever answer comes back — an official policy, a "good question, let me check," or silence — you've just done something subtly important: you've put yourself on record as the person who asked the responsible question. Remember this moment in Chapter 16.
Prompt Pack: Test-Driving a Tool
I'm an administrative professional evaluating AI tools. Show me your range: (1) draft a two-sentence meeting reminder, (2) turn it into a friendly version, (3) turn that into three bullet points, (4) translate the bullets into Spanish.
I'm going to paste a long article. Summarize it in five bullets, then list any action items or dates mentioned. [PASTE A LONG, PUBLIC, NON-CONFIDENTIAL ARTICLE]
Create a simple table comparing three options for [A GENERIC DECISION, e.g., 'catering styles for a 40-person office event']: columns for cost level, effort to organize, and best-fit situation.
Explain the difference between [TWO THINGS FROM YOUR WORK WORLD, e.g., ''Reply All' etiquette vs. BCC etiquette'] with one do-and-don't example for each.
*(for Copilot or Gemini in your office apps)* "What can you help me with in this application? List your five most useful capabilities for someone who manages email, calendars, and documents all day.
List the questions an administrative professional should ask when deciding between AI tools for work use. Include questions about privacy and data handling, not just features.