Microsoft Copilot has quickly become one of the most useful tools inside Microsoft 365. But here’s the thing: most people only use about 10% of what Copilot can actually do. They ask it to rewrite an email, maybe summarise a document, and that’s where they stop.

But Copilot is far more powerful than that. It can help you think, plan, organise, analyse, prioritise, and even create content in seconds — if you know the right features to use.

In this blog, we’re diving into 10 clever Copilot tips and tricks that will genuinely help you work faster, stay organised, and get more done every day. These aren’t generic “ask AI to help” suggestions. These are real, practical, everyday shortcuts that make a difference.

Grab a coffee — this is a good one.

1. Set Your Drafting Style in Outlook (So Copilot Writes Like You)

Most people are surprised to learn that Copilot doesn’t automatically know your tone. If you don’t set it up, you might get emails that sound like a very polite but slightly robotic assistant.

The fix?
Use Draft Instructions in Outlook.

You can tell Copilot things like:

• Keep the tone conversational.

• Use British English spelling.

• Avoid emojis.

• Keep sentences short and clear.

Once you set your preferences, Copilot follows your rules every time it drafts an email.

Why this matters

It saves time on editing, keeps communication consistent, and makes your writing feel more natural — especially if you work in a role where tone really matters.

2. Summarise Long Email Threads in Seconds with Copilot

We all know the feeling — you step away from your desk for an hour and come back to a 17-message chain full of replies, forwards, and side comments.

Copilot’s email thread summarisation is one of its most underrated features.

Just click Summary by Copilot, and it will:

• Highlight the key points

• Identify decisions made

• Pull out any questions directed at you

• List action items

• Remove the noise

It’s ideal for busy inboxes, fast-moving teams, or anyone who gets copied into everything.

3. Use Copilot Chat to Manage Your Inbox Like a Pro

Sometimes you don’t want a summary — you want answers.

That’s where Copilot Chat inside Outlook shines. You can ask questions such as:

• “Which emails need my immediate attention?”

• “Show me all unread emails that require a reply.”

• “Summarise everything I missed this morning.”

• “Filter out newsletters and promotions.”

It’s basically a smart assistant that reads your inbox for you and tells you what actually matters.

Why this matters

It removes the mental load. No more scanning through hundreds of messages to work out what needs doing. Copilot already knows.

4. Create Comparison Charts in Excel Without Any Manual Work

Here’s a tip that feels like cheating:
You can ask Copilot to build charts, visuals, and reports instantly.

For example:

“Build a comparison chart for Q1 vs Q2.”

Copilot knows that:

• Q1 = January–March

• Q2 = April–June

It automatically:

• Picks the right data

• Creates a clean chart

• Labels everything properly

• Presents it in a polished, readable format

This saves you from endless formulas, dragging, and formatting.

5. Turn Messy Notes into Full Documents with Copilot

If you’re someone who writes quick bullet points or rough notes during meetings, brainstorms, or calls, Copilot can transform them into complete documents.

You can paste your rough draft and say:

“Create a well-structured document with headings, transitions, and examples.”

Copilot expands your points into something professional and ready to share.

Where this shines

• Reports

• Handovers

• Client proposals

• Project briefs

• Internal documentation

It eliminates the blank-page problem completely.

6. Rewrite Anything in Your Voice (or a Different Tone)

Tone matters. You might need something:

• More formal for a client

• Friendlier for a colleague

• Shorter for a quick update

• More persuasive for a proposal

Copilot can rewrite anything in seconds. Ask:

• “Rewrite this in a warmer tone.”

• “Make this shorter but more direct.”

• “Rewrite this to sound confident and professional.”

It’s like having a writing assistant available any time you need it.

7. Use “Explain” to Simplify Anything Confusing

If you ever deal with spreadsheets, systems, reports, or technical documentation, this tip will save your sanity.

Ask Copilot:

“Explain this like I’m five.”

Or:

“Explain this in simple, non-technical language.”

Copilot breaks down:

• Complicated formulas

• Technical documents

• Legal text

• Project plans

• Business processes

It’s the easiest way to learn something fast without feeling overwhelmed.

8. Polish Your PowerPoint Presentations Instantly

PowerPoint users love this one.

Give Copilot a topic and it will:

• Build slides

• Suggest layouts

• Create speaker notes

• Adjust formatting

• Improve existing slides

You don’t need to spend an hour adjusting alignment or thinking of how to structure your message. Copilot does the groundwork — you just refine the final version.

9. Extract Action Items from Meetings Automatically

If your team uses Microsoft Teams, this is a lifesaver.

After a meeting, ask Copilot:

“Pull out action items, owners, and deadlines.”

It analyses the transcript and gives you:

• Key decisions

• Follow-up tasks

• People responsible

• Dates (if mentioned)

• Any risks or blockers

No more guessing what was agreed or chasing people for clarity.

10. Kick-Start Creative Work with AI Brainstorming

Whether you’re writing a blog, planning marketing content, preparing social posts, or building website copy, Copilot can help you get started.

Try prompts like:

• “Give me five variations of this headline.”

• “List 10 angles for this blog topic.”

• “Write a conversational paragraph about this idea.”

It clears creative block instantly and saves a huge amount of time.

Final Thoughts

Copilot is more than a simple AI assistant — it’s a tool that helps you think, plan, create, and organise far faster than you ever could manually.

If you use even a few of these tips, you’ll notice:

• Less time spent on admin

• More clarity in communication

• Faster content creation

• Easier decision-making

• A calmer, more organised workday

Copilot isn’t just the future of work — it’s already transforming how many people work today.