Back to Module 7

Module 7 visual components

AI for daily operations

Component 1

Operations workflow audit worksheet

Use this worksheet to find internal workflows that are good candidates for AI support.

WorkflowCurrent triggerCurrent manual stepsTime per runFrequencyRisk levelAI could help withHuman review point
Summarize/draft/categorize/analyze/organize

Component 2

AI operations fit matrix

Use this to decide whether a task is ready for AI support.

Task typeGood AI fit?WhyHuman must own
Meeting summariesYesClear input, easy to reviewFinal decisions and action item accuracy
Inbox triageYesAI can group and summarize quicklyPriority judgment and outgoing responses
SOP draftsYesAI can structure messy process notesProcess accuracy and final approval
Invoice preparationSometimesAI can draft from approved recordsAmounts, taxes, client details, and sending
Expense categorizationSometimesAI can suggest categories from patternsFinal bookkeeping review and edge cases
Cash flow scenariosSometimesAI can model assumptionsActual financial decisions
Hiring documentsSometimesAI can draft structure and questionsCandidate evaluation and hiring decisions
Tax filing or legal adviceNoToo high-stakes and jurisdiction-specificQualified professional

Component 3

Data safety quick check

Use this before uploading internal information into any AI tool.

QuestionAction
Does this include customer, employee, vendor, or applicant personal information?Use an approved business tool, anonymize where possible, and check access controls.
Does this include financial records, banking details, tax information, payroll, or invoices?Use extra review and avoid unapproved tools.
Does this include passwords, API keys, confidential strategy, legal matters, or HR issues?Don't upload it unless the tool and process are approved for that data.
Could the information harm someone if it were exposed?Treat it as sensitive and reduce what you share.
Do you know how the tool stores, trains on, or retains the data?If no, pause before using it.

Component 4

Inbox triage prompt

You're helping me triage my inbox. Sort the messages below into four groups:

1. Needs my response today
2. Needs response this week
3. Can be delegated or batched
4. Informational or low priority

For each message, give:
- Suggested priority
- Why it belongs there
- Recommended next action
- Any deadline or risk you see

Don't draft replies yet.

Business context:
[Briefly describe your business and role]

Messages:
[Paste subject lines, sender names, and short previews. Remove sensitive data where possible.]

Component 5

Internal email draft prompt

Draft a clear internal email response based on the message below.

Goal:
[Confirm / ask for missing information / decline / delegate / follow up / summarize decision]

Relationship:
[Team member / vendor / partner / contractor / internal stakeholder]

Tone:
Direct, warm, and concise.

Constraints:
- Don't overpromise.
- Don't add facts not included here.
- If information is missing, ask for it clearly.
- Keep the email easy to scan.

Original message:
[Paste the message or summary]

My intended response:
[Explain what you want to say]

Component 6

Meeting summary and action item prompt

Turn the meeting notes or transcript below into a clean meeting recap.

Include:
1. Meeting purpose
2. Key decisions
3. Open questions
4. Action items with owner and deadline
5. Risks or blockers
6. Follow-up message I can send to attendees

Rules:
- If an owner or deadline isn't clear, mark it as "needs confirmation."
- Don't invent decisions.
- Keep the recap concise.
- Separate confirmed actions from possible next steps.

Meeting context:
[Project, client, team, or topic]

Notes or transcript:
[Paste notes or transcript]

Component 7

SOP builder prompt

Turn my rough process notes into a practical SOP.

Audience:
[Who will use this SOP]

Process purpose:
[What this process accomplishes]

Create:
1. Process overview
2. When to use this SOP
3. Inputs needed
4. Step-by-step instructions
5. Decision points
6. Common mistakes
7. Quality check before marking done
8. Final checklist

Rules:
- Use clear steps.
- Keep the language practical.
- Mark missing details as questions.
- Don't add steps that I didn't describe unless you label them as suggestions.

Rough process notes:
[Paste notes or voice-to-text transcript]

Component 8

Proposal or report drafting prompt

Create a first draft of a [proposal/report/project brief] from the information below.

Audience:
[Who will read it]

Purpose:
[What the document needs to accomplish]

Required sections:
[List sections or ask AI to suggest a structure]

Tone:
Professional, clear, and practical.

Rules:
- Don't invent numbers, promises, dates, or pricing.
- Flag any missing information.
- Keep assumptions in a separate section.
- End with clear next steps.

Source information:
[Paste notes, call summary, project details, or bullet points]

Component 9

Spreadsheet and data summary prompt

Analyze the data below and create a plain-language summary.

Business question:
[What you want to understand]

Focus on:
- Trends
- Outliers
- Changes over time
- Categories that need review
- Questions I should investigate

Rules:
- Show the calculations or explain how you reached the summary.
- Don't make claims the data doesn't support.
- Flag missing or unclear fields.
- Keep recommendations separate from observations.

Data:
[Paste a small table or upload an approved file. Remove sensitive fields where possible.]

Component 10

Finance workflow boundary checklist

Use this checklist before adding AI to a finance task.

BoundaryConfirmed?
The task is preparation, organization, summary, or draft support.
A person reviews amounts, dates, tax treatment, categories, and client details.
Source documents remain stored in the approved recordkeeping system.
Sensitive financial data is used only in approved tools.
Unusual transactions are flagged for human review.
Tax, payroll, and compliance decisions stay with the owner and qualified professionals.

Component 11

Invoice and payment reminder prompt

Draft an invoice instruction or payment reminder from the approved details below.

Task:
[Invoice instruction / payment reminder / internal billing note]

Rules:
- Don't change amounts, dates, tax details, or payment terms.
- Flag any missing information.
- Keep the tone polite and clear.
- Include only the details provided.

Approved details:
Client:
Invoice number:
Amount:
Due date:
Services or products:
Payment instructions:
Notes:

Component 12

Expense review prompt

Review the transactions below and suggest expense categories.

Rules:
- Treat categories as suggestions, not final bookkeeping decisions.
- Flag anything uncertain, unusual, large, duplicated, or possibly personal.
- Don't guess when the vendor or purpose is unclear.
- Group recurring vendors when possible.

Business context:
[Type of business]

Category list:
[Paste your approved chart of accounts or common categories]

Transactions:
[Paste transaction list with sensitive fields removed where possible]

Component 13

Cash flow scenario prompt

Help me think through a cash flow scenario.

Use the numbers below to create three scenarios:
1. Expected case
2. Conservative case
3. Stress case

For each scenario, summarize:
- Starting cash
- Expected inflows
- Expected outflows
- Timing risks
- Cash pressure points
- Questions I should ask my accountant or bookkeeper

Rules:
- This is planning support, not financial advice.
- Don't make assumptions without labeling them.
- Keep recommendations separate from calculations.
- Flag any missing information.

Business context:
[Brief context]

Inputs:
[Paste approved numbers and assumptions]

Component 14

Project kickoff prompt

Turn this project idea into a practical project kickoff brief.

Include:
1. Project goal
2. Success criteria
3. Key milestones
4. Task list
5. Suggested owners
6. Dependencies
7. Risks
8. Questions to resolve
9. Weekly status update format

Rules:
- Don't assume capacity or deadlines unless provided.
- Mark unclear items as questions.
- Keep the plan realistic for a small team.

Project notes:
[Paste project description, deadline, team members, constraints, and desired outcome]

Component 15

Internal knowledge base page template

# [Process or topic name]

## Purpose
[What this page helps the team do]

## When to use this
[Trigger or situation]

## Who owns this
[Role or person]

## Inputs needed
[Documents, tools, approvals, customer details, etc.]

## Steps
1. [Step]
2. [Step]
3. [Step]

## Decision points
[What to do when the situation changes]

## Common mistakes
[What usually goes wrong]

## Quality check
[How to know the work is done correctly]

## Escalation
[When to ask for help and who to contact]

## Last reviewed
[Date and owner]

Component 16

Hiring support prompt

Help me create hiring support materials for the role below.

Create:
1. Clear job description
2. Required skills vs. nice-to-have skills
3. Screening rubric tied to the actual work
4. Interview questions
5. Practical work-sample exercise
6. Candidate communication templates

Rules:
- Don't include requirements that aren't necessary for the role.
- Avoid vague culture-fit language.
- Keep evaluation criteria tied to evidence.
- Don't rank or reject candidates.
- Flag anything that could create fairness or bias concerns.

Role context:
[Role title, responsibilities, must-have skills, schedule, location, compensation range if available, team context]

Component 17

Hiring review checklist

Use this before publishing hiring materials or using AI-generated screening support.

Review questionChecked?
Are the requirements tied to the actual work?
Did we remove unnecessary education, years of experience, or tool requirements?
Are interview questions consistent for each candidate?
Does the rubric evaluate evidence instead of personality impressions?
Did a human review every AI-generated hiring document?
Are final hiring decisions made by people, not AI?

Component 18

Team AI ground rules card

Share this with team members before they start using AI in internal workflows.

RuleWhat it means
Use approved toolsDon't paste business data into random AI tools.
Protect sensitive dataRemove customer, employee, financial, and confidential details unless the tool is approved for that use.
Review before sendingAI drafts don't go out without human review.
Save useful promptsAdd working prompts to the shared prompt library.
Flag mistakesIf AI gets something wrong, update the workflow or prompt.
Keep judgment humanFinance, HR, legal, customer exceptions, and major decisions need people.

Component 19

Workflow implementation worksheet

Workflow chosen:
[Name]

Why this workflow:
[Time cost, frustration, mistakes, delay, or repeat volume]

Current process:
[Describe how it works today]

AI-assisted process:
[Describe the new version]

AI will handle:
[Summarize, draft, categorize, analyze, organize, etc.]

Human will review:
[What must be checked before the work is final]

Allowed data:
[What can be used]

Restricted data:
[What can't be used or needs an approved tool]

Success metric:
[Time saved, faster response, fewer missed tasks, cleaner documentation, etc.]

Test period:
[Dates]

Owner:
[Person responsible]

Component 20

One-week time savings tracker

DateWorkflow usedOld estimated timeNew actual timeOutput qualityCorrections neededNotes

At the end of the week, calculate: