The prompt
Score 10 of 10, Excellent
Use it when You need colleagues covering for you to know what is in flight, who to contact and what can wait.
- {{leave_dates}}
- {{contact_rule}}
- {{cover}}
- {{work_in_flight}}
- {{recurring_tasks}}
Full prompt and why it works
Prompt
Write two things I need before I go on leave: a handover note for the colleagues covering for me, and an out-of-office reply. My leave: {{leave_dates}} Whether and how I can be contacted while away: {{contact_rule}} Who is covering what: {{cover}} Work in flight (projects, status, deadlines, contacts, where the files are): """ {{work_in_flight}} """ Recurring tasks that will come up while I am away: {{recurring_tasks}} Part 1: Handover note, for colleagues who know the team but not the detail of my work. It should be enough for someone to pick up any item without calling me. - Dates, and how to reach me, exactly as I said, including "do not contact" if that is what I said. - Who covers what: a table with the columns Area, Covered by, and Can decide without me, for example "Yes, within the agreed budget". - In flight: a table with the columns Item, Status, Next step, Deadline, Key contact, and Where the files are. - Recurring tasks, each with its date and who does it. - Can wait until I am back: a short list. - Risks: anything that could go wrong, and what to do if it does. Keep it under 500 words, most urgent items first. Part 2: Out-of-office reply, under 80 words and safe to send to people outside the company. Give the return date and who to contact for what, by name or role as I listed them. Do not explain why I am away, mention travel plans, or name internal projects or clients. Rules for both: Use only the information I gave. Never include passwords, access codes or other credentials, even if they appear in my notes; write "see the password manager" instead. If an item has no status, owner or deadline in my notes, write "[to confirm]"; do not guess. List those items at the end so I can fill them in before I leave.
Variables
- {{leave_dates}}
- Your first day away and the day you are back.
- {{contact_rule}}
- For example "do not contact" or "text me only if a client deadline is at risk".
- {{cover}}
- Who covers which area, one per line, and any limits on what they can decide.
- {{work_in_flight}}
- Each project or task: where it stands, what is next, deadlines, contacts and where the files live.
- {{recurring_tasks}}
- For example "monthly report due on the 3rd", or "none".
Why it works
- Format. Tables for who covers what and what is in flight, with a column for what each person can decide alone, answer the questions that otherwise turn into calls during your leave.
- What to avoid. Credentials stay out of the note, and the out-of-office reply says nothing about why you are away or where you are.
- If unsure. Anything missing is marked "[to confirm]" and listed at the end, so you can close the gaps before you go.