Lab Setup:

In this module, we’ll create prompts for Microsoft 365 Copilot that reference files. First, let’s upload all required files to OneDrive to ensure they’re accessible throughout the lab.

Uploading Files to OneDrive

Follow the steps below to upload all files needed to OneDrive:

  1. Log into the virtual machine provided by your tenant provider as the local Administrator account with the password Pa55w.rd.
  2. In the Windows taskbar, select Microsoft Edge.
  3. In the address bar, enter https://www.office.com.
  4. Under Welcome to Microsoft 365, select Sign in.
  5. At the Sign-in prompt, enter userx@yourtenant.onmicrosoft.com (username and tenant provided by your tenant provided) and select Next.
  6. At the Enter password screen, enter the password (provided by tenant provider) for the User account, then select Sign in.
  7. If prompted to Stay signed in, select Don’t show this again and then Yes.
  8. In Microsoft 365, select Apps.
  9. Within Apps, select OneDrive.
  10. In OneDrive, in the top-left corner, select + (add new) > File upload.
  11. In File Explorer, select This PC > Local Disk (C:) and open the ResourceFiles folder.
  12. Select all files within the ResourceFiles folder, then select Open to upload them to OneDrive.
  13. When the upload is complete, you should see Uploaded 29 items to My files in the bottom center of the screen.
  14. Leave Edge open and move on to the next task.

Referencing Files in Copilot

When using Copilot, you may find that some files aren’t immediately available in the suggestions. This occurs because certain Copilot experiences only reference files from the Most Recently Used (MRU) list, while others let you browse OneDrive directly. To ensure a file appears in the MRU list, simply open it in the relevant Microsoft 365 app, and it will be added automatically.

[!IMPORTANT] Microsoft 365 Copilot can only work with files saved to OneDrive. Files stored locally on your PC will need to be moved to OneDrive for Copilot to access them.

Introduction

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, executives face the dual challenge of making impactful decisions and maintaining strategic oversight, often under tight deadlines and with an overwhelming volume of information. Microsoft 365 Copilot is transforming the way leaders approach these challenges, serving as an intelligent partner that amplifies executive capabilities across the organization.

As someone who’s in a position of executive leadership, refining your ability to effectively use Copilot is crucial for harnessing its full potential. You can use this skill across various executive tasks involving all the Microsoft 365 apps. For example, drafting reports in Microsoft Word, analyzing data in Excel, creating presentations in PowerPoint, and beyond.

This module shows you how Copilot integrates seamlessly with familiar Microsoft 365 apps, such as Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, and Planner, enabling executives to:

  • Accelerate decision-making. Copilot quickly transforms complex business data into actionable insights, allowing leaders to focus on strategy rather than manual analysis. Whether summarizing quarterly performance, forecasting budgets, or identifying emerging risks, Copilot delivers the clarity executives need to act with confidence.

  • Streamline communication. In Microsoft Teams, Copilot synthesizes emails, meetings, and chats, providing executives with concise summaries of key discussions, decisions, and action items. This ability ensures leaders stay informed and can drive alignment across teams without being distracted from information overload.

  • Automate routine work. By automating tasks such as report generation, project planning, and stakeholder updates, Copilot frees up executive time for high-value activities—like steering critical initiatives and fostering innovation.

  • Enhance strategic visibility. Copilot’s AI-powered agents proactively monitor business performance, flagging trends and risks before they escalate. Executives gain real-time visibility into operations, enabling proactive leadership and agile responses to market changes.

This module also highlights the use of Copilot agents—customizable AI assistants that deliver targeted business insights. For executives, agents are invaluable because they:

  • Provide on-demand intelligence. Agents can be configured to answer executive-level questions about sales, forecasts, risks, and operational metrics, drawing from the latest company data and documents.

  • Enable proactive leadership. Instead of waiting for periodic reports, executives can use agents to receive instant updates and alerts on critical business indicators, helping them stay ahead of emerging issues.

  • Support strategic decision-making. Agents synthesize information across multiple sources, making it easier for leaders to compare trends, identify opportunities, and respond quickly to challenges.

Copilot prompting

One of the primary keys to effectively using Copilot is the quality of your Copilot prompts. A good Copilot prompt is built around the following four key elements that make your request clear, actionable, and tailored for the best results:

  • Goal. Clearly state what you want Copilot to do. For example: “Generate three to five bullet points summarizing the latest project updates.”

  • Context. Provide background information so Copilot understands why you need this request and who or what is involved. For example: “Prepare these bullet points for a meeting with Client X about their ‘Phase 3+’ brand campaign.”

  • Sources. Specify where Copilot should look for information (documents, emails, Teams chats, and so on). For example: “Focus on emails and Teams chats since June.”

  • Expectations. Define how you want the response delivered—tone, style, or level of detail. For example: “Use simple language so I can get up to speed quickly” or “Explain it as if I were a pirate.”

Keep these four elements front and center as you practice creating prompts—they’re the foundation for getting clear, accurate, and useful results from Copilot. Implementing these elements as you write prompts in these exercises can build real-world skills, so writing effective prompts becomes second nature.