Choose one workflow before you automate

Name the trigger

What starts the work: a form, email, file, calendar event, or status change? If there are several triggers, choose the one that causes the most repeated manual work.

Define the handoff

Write the exact input, decision, recipient, and next status. Separate required fields from optional context and identify where a human must approve.

List exceptions

Capture missing data, duplicates, timeouts, rejected approvals, and unusual cases. A useful map makes exceptions visible rather than hiding them inside automation.

Set the boundary

Start with synthetic examples or approved process descriptions. Exclude credentials, live deployment, customer records, and outcome guarantees from a first diagnostic.