Describe the outcome, evidence, and boundaries. You do not need special vocabulary to give a good task.
A reusable pattern
“Read the project brief. Draft a 200-word update for customers, using only verified milestones. Save it as a draft. Do not send it. Flag missing dates instead of guessing.”
This defines a source, audience, output, action boundary, and response to uncertainty.
Separate three things
- One-time task: something to do now.
- Standing preference: a durable rule to record in the appropriate workspace instructions.
- Automation: a configured recurring job with a verified schedule and destination.
Ask for a receipt when a standing rule is saved or a job is created. Conversation wording alone does not guarantee persistence or future execution.
For larger tasks
Provide the project folder, what can change, what must stay intact, and the completion check. Let the assistant resolve routine implementation choices while reserving consequential decisions you want to review.
“Audit this page's links and mobile layout. Fix the page locally, preserve its content, and show the result before publishing. Report anything you could not verify.”