Microsoft 365 Copilot – Flow Alt Delete – Josh Cook [Microsoft MVP]

Copilot Cowork Prompt of the Day: Planner + Cowork

Most people open Planner, see a wall of tasks, and then burn time figuring out where to start.

Bad move.

A better play is to use the Planner (Frontier) agent to pull everything due this week, then hand that full output to Copilot Cowork so it can start moving the work immediately.

That is exactly what I did here.

I had 6 tasks due in the upcoming week. Instead of manually opening each one, rewriting the context, drafting emails, setting meetings, and creating documents one by one, I used Planner to extract the full list and Copilot Cowork to help kick things off.

The scenario

I had a packed week ahead with multiple tasks already assigned to me in Planner. I needed a fast way to get organized and get the work moving before the week started tightening up.

So I used the new Planner (Frontier) agent to give me a full view of what was due, then I passed that output directly into Copilot Cowork.

That gave Cowork real context to work with: due dates, notes, priorities, task titles, and the actual work that needed to happen.

Step 1: Pull the weekly task list from Planner

First, I asked Planner to show me everything due this week and give me the full details.

			
Show me tasks that are due this week.
Give me full details.
I will be giving your output to Copilot Cowork to do the tasks.

Planner returned the task list with the details I needed. Then I asked it for one more thing: put the output into a code block.

Can you output this in code block

That extra step is smart. It makes the output much easier to copy and paste cleanly without wrecking the formatting or losing structure. Also AI loves it.

Step 2: Hand the extract to Copilot Cowork

Next, I dropped that Planner output into Copilot Cowork with a very simple prompt.

			
I pulled the list of items I need to get done this week coming up.
Get these things going and started, so I can get them done on time.
Here is the extract from Planner:
<Paste output from Planner agent from step 1>

No complicated framework. No giant system prompt. Just the actual task extract from Planner and a direct ask.

That is where this gets good. Cowork is no longer guessing what matters. It has the real list in front of it.

Step 3: Let Cowork start the work

Once Cowork had the context, it started breaking the workload down and pushing the execution forward.

In my example, the work included:

Drafting emails and Teams messages to align what was still left for the team to build
Setting up workshop meetings to gather more requirements
Checking availability and scheduling the right people
Creating a procedure document
Helping move general dev work forward

That is a strong workflow because it cuts out the dead time between seeing the work and starting the work.

Instead of looking at six tasks and thinking, I should probably get on this, Cowork starts lining up the actual actions that move those tasks forward.

Teams message sent to group chat:

Procedure document generated:

Meeting scheduled:

Recap

Planner and Cowork each do a different job, and that is exactly why this combo works.

Planner gives you the structured workload
Planner gives you the dates, notes, priority, and task details
Cowork uses that context to help draft, schedule, create, and coordinate

You are not starting from a blank chat. You are starting from actual work that already exists inside Microsoft 365.

Prompt recap

Planner prompt

			
Show me tasks that are due this week.
Give me full details.
I will be giving your output to Copilot Cowork to do the tasks.

Planner follow-up

Can you output this in code block

Copilot Cowork prompt

			
I pulled the list of items I need to get done this week coming up.
Get these things going and started, so I can get them done on time.
Here is the extract from Planner:
<Paste output from Planner agent from step 1>

Why I like this prompt

This one is simple, practical, and dangerous in a good way.

You take a task list that usually just sits there, and you turn it into momentum.

That is the real win. Less dragging. More movement.

If you are already using Planner, this is one of the easiest Copilot Cowork workflows to start using right now.