Query Clovis effectively
A good request clearly states the task, the relevant information, and the expected result. You do not need to use technical vocabulary: write as though you were giving instructions to a colleague who is new to the subject.
Structure a request with the RICO method
| Element | Question to ask yourself | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Role | What expertise should Clovis adopt? | “You are an internal communications specialist.” |
| Instruction | What task should it perform? | “Summarize these meeting notes.” |
| Context | What information and constraints should it know? | “The summary is intended for the sales teams and must highlight deadlines.” |
| Output | What response format do you want? | “Answer in five bullet points, then add an action table.” |
Complete example:
You are an internal communications specialist. Summarize the attached meeting notes for the sales teams. Highlight the decisions, owners, and deadlines. Answer in no more than five points, then finish with an action table.
Provide the right context
- Define internal terms or ambiguous acronyms.
- Specify the audience, objective, tone, and expected length.
- Attach the necessary documents using the attachment icon. Clovis can process text documents, PDFs, Word files, and simple spreadsheets, among other formats.
- Specify whether the response should be limited to the provided documents or whether a web search is expected.
- Only share information that you are authorized to use in Clovis.
Improve a response
The conversation is iterative. If the first response is not suitable, explain what needs to change instead of starting over entirely:
- “Shorten the response to 150 words.”
- “Add the missing information from the attached document.”
- “Rewrite it for a non-technical audience.”
- “Present the comparison in a table.”
- “Indicate uncertain points and information that needs to be verified.”
A generated response may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify important facts, calculations, quotations, and decisions before reusing it.
When should you start a new conversation?
Stay in the same conversation to refine or continue a task. Start a new one when the subject, objective, or reference documents change significantly.
To reuse an instruction that works well, save it in the prompt library.