Transform Copilot into a Thinking Partner: The Key to Effective daily usage of AI
Jaromir S.
Senior Service Adoption Specialist | Microsoft 365 Expert | Driving Digital Transformation and Change Management (ACM) | Customer Success Advocate ??
Ever notice how most AI interactions follow a similar pattern? "I want X." "Here's Y."
Done.
Grrrr.
Either you find Copilot stupid, not beeing able to provide what you wanted, or you ask yourself:
"How can I ask differenty or better way?"
What if we took a different approach?
Microsoft Copilot has shown me something surprising:
the real magic isn’t in the answers—it’s in the questions.
Flip the Script: Let Questions Drive the Process
In typical usage, we treat AI like a search engine: we ask a question, and it provides a straightforward answer.
However, Copilot can be much more than that.
Imagine if, instead of jumping straight to answers, we let Copilot take the lead in asking powerful questions. By taking this approach, we move from a consumption model to a co-creation model.
So far, the results have been promising:
Why are questions so powerful?
Think about the best consultants you’ve worked with.
They don’t jump to conclusions or offer solutions immediately.
Instead, they start by probing deeper, seeking to understand the problem fully. They ask questions that reveal new layers of insight.
This questioning process ensures that, by the time solutions are suggested, they’re far more targeted and impactful.
Why should our interactions with Copilot be any different?
To simply said get more from it.
A Framework for Copilot Conversations: EXPLORE - ASSESS - CO-DEVELOP
To make the most out of Copilot,here is a conversational framework designed to foster deeper engagement and better solutions.
Here’s the three-step approach:
1. Let Copilot Explore the Problem Space: Start by allowing Copilot to ask questions, exploring the boundaries of the problem and expanding beyond initial assumptions. This phase brings insights that may not surface if we go straight to solutions.
2. Assess Current Knowledge Together: Have Copilot assess what the team already knows about the issue, identifying any gaps in understanding or areas that may need clarification. This collective assessment aligns everyone and prepares the groundwork for solution-building.
3. Co-Develop Solutions: Finally, work collaboratively to develop solutions. Copilot is no longer just a tool for finding answers but a thinking partner that contributes to strategy and planning.
It’s Not Just About Faster Answers—It’s About Better Questions
The goal isn’t simply to expedite problem-solving but to enhance the quality of understanding and solutions. In this way, Copilot becomes an enabler of deeper thinking, helping teams make smarter, more informed decisions.
From Search Engine to Thinking Partner
The real win is when teams stop treating Copilot like a search engine and start treating it as a collaborator. By working with Copilot, they can harness a richer, more nuanced approach to problem-solving—one that combines human creativity with the AI’s analytical power.
Leading a Successful Copilot Implementation? Start with the Conversation Model
If you’re looking to successfully integrate Copilot into your team’s workflows, remember that it’s not about replacing human thinking. It’s about enhancing it. Approach Copilot as a thinking partner, and you’ll see the potential for AI-driven insights and innovation that’s far greater than just finding answers.
Embrace the conversation.
Flip the script.
The next level of AI success in the enterprise starts here.
This framework for building and using queries with Microsoft Copilot could be forv you the game changer in your organisation.
It emphasize a shift in approach from merely seeking answers to fostering deeper exploration and collaboration.
Core principles for Copilot query building
The core principles for query-building, as derived from this framework, include:
1. Prioritize Questions Over Answers: Instead of beginning with a solution-focused approach, start by letting Copilot ask questions to clarify and expand the problem space.
2. Deep Dive Before Solutions: Allow for an in-depth analysis of the issue before moving to solutions. This means Copilot should help explore the context and background, which leads to better understanding.
3. Co-Creation, Not Consumption: Treat Copilot as a partner in solution development. Engage in a back-and-forth process where solutions are co-developed rather than simply delivered.
4. Problem Space Exploration: Begin with an exploration phase where Copilot investigates the full scope of the problem and assesses existing knowledge to inform the path forward.
5. Collaborative Solution Development: After a thorough exploration, develop solutions together, using Copilot’s insights and perspectives to shape a refined, aligned outcome.
6. Transformative Use of Technology: Rather than treating Copilot as a tool to replace human thinking, use it to enhance team insights, emphasizing a model where questions guide the process to more effective, targeted answers.
The overarching message is that adopting a conversation-based approach with Copilot enhances understanding, aligns goals, and creates more impactful outcomes by leveraging Copilot as a thinking partner rather than a straightforward answer generator.
And what is your best practice of using Copilot?
Looking forward to read your stories in the comments!