Your first conversation

Start with the outcome you want, not the tool you think Neo should use. Clear outcomes give Neo room to choose a sensible approach while keeping the work aligned with your intent.

A simple request pattern

I need to [outcome] for [audience or context]. Use [inputs], follow [constraints], and return [format].

Example

Turn these meeting notes into a one-page decision memo for the product team. Include the decision, rationale, risks, owners, and unresolved questions. Use concise headings and do not invent missing dates.

This tells Neo what to create, who it is for, which source to use, and how to handle missing information.

Before you send

Ask yourself four questions:

1. What should exist when the work is done?
2. What context would a capable colleague need?
3. What must Neo preserve, avoid, or verify?
4. How will I judge whether the result is useful?

You do not need a perfect prompt. Begin with the essentials, then add detail where a wrong assumption would matter.

Attach useful context

Provide the files, links, examples, terminology, or background that should guide the answer. Identify which inputs are authoritative and which are only references. If sources conflict, ask Neo to call out the conflict rather than silently choosing one.

Improve the result in follow-ups

Continue the conversation to shape the work:

• “Give me the short answer first, then the detail.”
• “Show me the assumptions behind this recommendation.”
• “Add evidence and links for the material claims.”
• “Give me two alternatives and explain the tradeoffs.”
• “Keep the structure, but make the tone more direct.”
• “Do not edit yet. Explain your plan first.”
• “Review this against the original requirements.”

Refer to specific sections when revising. “Shorten the risks section to three bullets” is safer than “make it better.”

When Neo asks a question

A clarification usually means an unanswered detail could materially change the result. Answer it directly, or authorize a reasonable assumption:

Use a general business audience and state any assumptions you need to make.

For low-risk work, this keeps momentum. For consequential work, resolve the ambiguity before execution.

When to start a new conversation

Start a new conversation when the topic, audience, objective, or confidentiality boundary changes. Continue the same conversation when earlier context is still relevant and accurate.

If a long conversation starts producing confused results, summarize the current goal, confirmed decisions, and source of truth—or begin again with that clean summary.

Finish with a review

Before using the output, ask:

Check the final result against my original request. List anything incomplete, assumed, or not independently verified.

That final pass does not replace your review, but it makes gaps easier to spot.