Getting started with Copilot - Next Steps
In this Video:
Unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365 Copilot in your workflow. This video explores how to leverage Copilot as a powerful learning tool to enhance your productivity and streamline your tasks.
Key topics covered in this video include:
- Utilising Copilot for Quick Answers: Learn how to tap into Copilot’s knowledge base for immediate support, even outside regular working hours.
- Creating Scheduled Prompts: Understand the step-by-step process of setting up scheduled prompts, like summarising your emails or planning your weekends, to automate your tasks effectively.
- Enhancing Your Prompts: Discover how to refine your prompts by asking Copilot for specific details, ensuring that your outputs are tailored to your needs.
- Real-time Feedback: Get insights on how to interact with Copilot to improve your prompts and get the responses you’re looking for.
By the end of this video, you will gain actionable insights on how to integrate Copilot into your daily operations, making it an invaluable part of your business toolkit. We’ll guide you through practical examples that can elevate your efficiency and help you harness the full capabilities of Copilot, turning complex tasks into manageable ones.
Join us in exploring the fascinating world of Copilot and see how it can transform your approach to work, making your processes smoother and more productive. Make sure to stay tuned for more tips and tricks on maximising your technology investments with Lanter.
FAQ
1. Can Microsoft 365 Copilot help me learn how to use Copilot itself?
Yes. One of the most practical ways to get more value from Copilot is to ask it direct questions about how to use its features. Instead of searching through help articles, you can ask a natural question and get a quick response in plain language.
2. Can Copilot explain how to use features like scheduled prompts?
Yes. In this workflow, Copilot was used to explain how scheduled prompts work and how to set them up. That makes it useful when you want a quick answer about a feature without stopping your work to go hunting through documentation.
3. Can Copilot help me write better prompts for Copilot?
Yes. Copilot can help refine your initial prompt by suggesting extra detail, better structure, and practical fields you may have missed. For example, it can help expand a basic request into a clearer prompt that includes timing, people, conflicts, preparation needs, or the exact format you want back.
4. What should I do if Copilot’s answer about Copilot seems out of date?
Because Copilot changes quickly, some instructions may occasionally lag behind the latest interface. If something looks wrong or a button is not where Copilot says it should be, you can tell it what you are seeing and ask it to revise the guidance. Adding a screenshot or more context can help narrow the gap faster.
5. What if Copilot is not giving me the response I want?
Treat that as part of the workflow, not a dead end. You can ask Copilot what your prompt was missing, what would make the request clearer, or how to rewrite it to get a better result. That back-and-forth can help you build stronger prompting habits over time.
6. When should I keep using Copilot on my own, and when should I get expert help?
Copilot is strong for learning features, improving prompts, and helping you get more from the tools you already have. As your workflows become more advanced, more connected, or more technical, there may be a point where expert guidance becomes useful. A sensible approach is to use Copilot to extend your capability first, then bring in specialist help when you want to push it further.
Getting Started with Copilot – Next Steps
There’s one last thing I want to talk about, and that is using Copilot to learn how to use Copilot and enhance your usage of Copilot.
When it comes to learning about Copilot, you can go through Microsoft’s documentation or contact Lanter. We’re always here to help. However, there will be times when you just want a quick answer.
Maybe you’re in the middle of something, working late, or simply need help right away. The good news is that you’ve now got a support assistant right in your back pocket.
You can ask Copilot questions about how to use Copilot itself.
For example, you might ask: “How do I create scheduled prompts in Copilot?”
Copilot can walk you through the process step by step.
Learning Features with Copilot
If you have the appropriate licence, Copilot can explain how to create scheduled prompts.
For example, it might tell you to:
- Create and run a prompt.
- Hover over the prompt you’ve submitted.
- Select Schedule this prompt.
- Configure the schedule and save it.
What’s interesting is that Copilot often provides additional information beyond what you asked for, including features or settings you may not have discovered yet.
You can even ask more natural questions such as: “How do I run a prompt every Friday?”
And Copilot will generally understand what you’re trying to achieve and guide you through the process.
Because Copilot contains a huge amount of product knowledge, it’s often the fastest way to find answers.
Keep Copilot Up to Date
One thing to remember is that Copilot evolves very quickly.
Occasionally, a button may have moved or a feature may have changed since the information was originally learned.
If Copilot tells you to click something that no longer exists, let it know.
You can say: “That button isn’t there. Has something changed?”
You can even provide a screenshot and ask for further guidance. Copilot may then use web-based information to help find the most up-to-date answer.
Using Copilot to Improve Your Prompts
The other powerful use case is asking Copilot to help improve your prompts.
For example, you might start with something simple: “I want to schedule a prompt to run every Friday that reviews my upcoming weekend and gives me a summary of my events, including when, where and what they are. Help me flesh out this prompt.”
Copilot might then suggest additional details such as:
- Who is attending?
- How busy does the weekend look overall?
- Are there any scheduling conflicts?
- Are there significant gaps in the schedule?
- Are there any potential travel issues?
- Do any events require preparation beforehand?
These are things you may not have thought to include yourself.
For example, two events might be scheduled at the same time. If your prompt doesn’t specifically request conflict detection, that issue could be overlooked.
Copilot helps identify these opportunities and can recommend ways to make your prompts more effective.
Once you’re happy with the revised version, you can simply copy and paste it into your scheduled prompt and start using it.
Ask Copilot for Feedback
If Copilot isn’t giving you the response you’re looking for, ask it why.
You might say: “What I really wanted was this. How could I have written my prompt differently to get a better result?” Or: “What information was missing from my original prompt?”
Copilot can often explain what additional context, detail or instructions would help it produce a more useful response.
Remember, Copilot is designed to work with you. Treat it like a conversation.
Final Thoughts
The key takeaway is simple:
Use Copilot to help you use Copilot.
We’re entering a world where getting help doesn’t always mean searching through documentation or clicking through endless help articles.
Instead, you can ask a natural question and receive a plain-English answer that helps you move forward quickly.
As you’ve seen throughout this series, each feature builds on the next. The more you learn, the more powerful Copilot becomes.
Over time, you’ll discover new ways to combine features, automate tasks and solve problems that you may not have considered before.
And if you eventually reach a point where you need more advanced guidance, that’s where specialist support can help take things even further.
For now, keep experimenting, keep exploring, and don’t be afraid to ask Copilot how to get more from Copilot.
Hopefully you’ve found this series useful, and best of luck with your new Copilot licence.
Have fun.