Getting started checklist

Before moving on to Prompt Engineering, complete these practical first steps. Each one is small, concrete, and gets you closer to real results.

Set up your tools

• Sign up for an AI tool if you have not already (ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini all work)
• Spend 15 minutes asking it questions about your business - anything at all
• Save or bookmark the tool so it is one click away during your workday

Identify your first automation target

• List 5 tasks you or your team repeat every week
• Run each one through the five questions framework from the previous module
• Pick the one that scores highest - this is your first target
• Try doing that task with AI assistance at least once

Establish your baseline

• Measure how long the task takes today, done manually
• Note the typical quality - how often does it need rework or corrections?
• Write down any pain points - what makes this task frustrating?

Get your team aligned

• Share what you have learned so far with at least one colleague
• Show them a live demo - let them watch you use AI on a real task
• Ask them what tasks they wish they could automate
• Address any concerns openly using the transformation mindset approach

What to track going forward

Once you start using AI regularly, pay attention to three things:

Time saved. Track it simply. If a report used to take 45 minutes and now takes 10, write that down. These numbers build the case for expanding AI across the business.

Quality changes. Is the output better, worse, or about the same? In most cases, AI-assisted work is more consistent even if it is not always more creative.

Surprises. The most valuable discoveries come from unexpected results. Maybe AI finds a pattern in your data you never noticed. Maybe it drafts something in a way that changes how you think about the task. Note these moments - they point to bigger opportunities.

Check your understanding

Next steps

Learn to communicate with AI effectively: Prompt Engineering Basics