SKILL: <short, verb-first name>

What this is: a one-page, reusable “recipe” you paste into any chatbot (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude - whichever you have) to reliably repeat a real task. Fill the seven sections top to bottom. The order is deliberate: you describe the result before you write the prompt. That’s Way #1: Describe before you generate.

Keep it to one page. Delete these quote-blocks before you print.

1. Goal - what this Skill does, and when to use it

One or two sentences. What real task does this replace? When would you reach for it?

e.g. “Turn my messy Monday call notes into a consistent status update. Use every week before the programme report.”

2. Inputs - what you paste in for it to work

List each thing the Skill needs.

• Input 1:
• Input 2:

PRIVACY CHECK (Way #3): before you paste anything, list what to remove or disguise. e.g. Replace real names with Person A/B. Replace client/vendor names with Client 1. Remove any figure marked confidential. No ID numbers.

3. Output - what “good” looks like (write this BEFORE the prompt)

The exact shape of the result: sections, columns, length, tone. This is the heart of spec-first - if you can describe it here, the AI can produce it.

e.g. “A table with columns: Summary | Key decisions | Risks (rated Red/Amber/Green) | Actions (Owner, Due). Max 8 rows. Neutral, factual tone.”

4. Instructions / Prompt - the exact text to paste

Write it so anyone can copy it word-for-word. Put the bits you swap each time in [SQUARE BRACKETS]. Include the output shape from section 3, and an anti-guessing instruction.

You are helping me [do the task].
Here is [the input] for [PROJECT / SUBJECT].
Produce [the exact output from section 3].
If something is missing, write "TBC" - do not guess or invent.
Keep it [tone].
Input: [PASTE ANONYMISED INPUT]

5. Worked Example - one real run, anonymised

Proof it works, and a yardstick to compare against next time.

Input: (a short, anonymised sample)

Output it produced: (the actual good result)

6. Guardrails - how to stay safe and sane

• Privacy (Way #3): never paste <X>. Always anonymise <Y>.
• Human check (Way #2): before you trust it, verify <these 1–2 things> - AI may invent owners, dates, or figures.
• Limits: don’t use this for <out-of-scope cases>.

7. Reuse notes - so it isn’t lost

• Owner:
• Last updated:
• Lives in: (where your team keeps it - a shared drive / wiki page, so others can reuse it - Way #5)

Built at Innovation Day. The five ways of working: ways-of-working.md.