Boost PM productivity using enterprise AI assistants

Not so common use cases to take the dread out of important tasks

For product managers, AI-led productivity isn’t always about automating tasks. Product management thrives on focused, deep work, demanding a clear plate for high-impact tasks. However, the inevitable 'dreaded tasks'—important, time-sensitive, yet daunting—often cloud our minds. These cognitive burdens hinder focus and overall productivity.

While ChatGPT excels at boosting personal productivity with its immense knowledge base, enterprise environments demand tailored solutions that respect sensitive information. This is where enterprise AI assistants like Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT Enterprise, and Gemini for Work come into play.

Nearly a year since its launch, Microsoft Copilot has shown promise in enhancing productivity within familiar office tools. As a product manager eager to optimize my workflow, I've closely examined its capabilities. While still evolving, Copilot has definitely made strides.

In this post, I'll share practical use cases for Microsoft Copilot to tackle these dreaded tasks, ultimately freeing up mental space. My intent is not to promote Copilot specifically; these strategies can also be applied to other enterprise AI assistants. I focus on Copilot because it is the tool I have the most experience with.

Get non-searchable insights

One of my biggest productivity killers is pending tasks that require research. For instance, I once discovered a Michigan state tax on my paystub, despite not visiting the state that year. This task would typically linger on my to-do list, as I was unsure where to start and easily gave up after fruitless searches. With Copilot, I simply asked when I visited Michigan. It analyzed my emails, chats, and files, revealing the exact date and accompanying coworker. Without Copilot, this would have remained a persistent to-do.

Similarly, locating HR resources like the helpdesk, checking office holiday schedules for your multi-geo team, finding the wifi password for the Microsoft Connector bus, or submitting time-sensitive reimbursement forms is often a hassle. Copilot centralizes these resources, allowing me to focus on more enjoyable tasks.

Navigate the organizational maze

As PMs, our job is to make inroads, connect dots, and find synergies across different teams. But finding the right person in a large corporation can be a time-consuming ordeal. With Copilot, it's significantly easier. For example, a customer recently asked me to validate the feasibility of a particular technical scenario. I included part of their question into Copilot and asked for potential alternatives. Copilot provided several options, helping me connect with the right person immediately.

Accelerate knowledge building

Onboarding to new teams, products, or customer scenarios is a constant for product managers. This often involves deciphering countless acronyms, jargons, and topics. A favorite Copilot prompt is, "What does XYZ mean in the context of abc?" This quickly summarizes the topic, links to relevant materials, and even identifies the owner for a deeper follow-up.

Overcome writer's block

We're often better editors than creators. Even starting a simple spec can be challenging. Copilot can generate a basic draft from raw text, providing a starting point for further development. It can also convert Word documents to PowerPoint presentations or create news posts from rough outlines.

Another dreaded task is to initiate an awkward conversation with a coworker, your manager or stakeholders. Copilot can help you frame the message and remove the initial block to get the important conversation started.

Uncover customer insights and identify patterns

Product managers attend numerous meetings, generating action items and follow-ups. Copilot can summarize these meetings for future reference, creating a knowledge base for subsequent queries. For example, after several customer discovery sessions, you can ask, "What's the common pattern across all customers?" to inform product decisions.

We recently compiled a list of customers interested in a new feature. Using Copilot to analyze hundreds of Excel entries, we could rapidly identify common use cases.

Minimize Distractions

Deep work sessions are often interrupted by the need to reference specific emails. With Copilot, you can search for messages without leaving your focus zone. It even searches across collaboration tools like Outlook and Teams, preventing distractions.

Conclusion

The levers for productivity vary for product managers. A common strategy is to simplify dreaded tasks so you can focus on high-leverage, high-visibility tasks that require deeper focus and higher cognitive load. While consumer AI products help in personal life and mining public knowledge, we can’t rely on them in the corporate context. Microsoft Copilot, and enterprise AI assistants in general, are powerful yet underutilized tools. By simplifying or unblocking dreaded tasks, they free up mental space for strategic thinking and innovation. As these tools continue to evolve, their impact on productivity will undoubtedly grow. The key is to build a habit of using these tools and discovering your own hacks to optimize your productivity.