Copilot for managers
Help managers catch up, brief from files they can open, and set a checking rule for the team.
- Level
- LeadershipHalf-day workshop
- Delivery
- On-site or remoteanywhere in New Zealand
- Length
- Half a dayagreed with you first
- Topics
- 6adapted to your team
Who it is for
Team leaders and managers who need a clear view of mail, meetings and documents, and who will set how their team uses Copilot.
Managers do not need the maker course to get value. This half-day is catch-up, a short briefing from documents you can already open, and a plain rule for the team: Copilot drafts, a person checks, then it goes out.
We also read the three labels, so you do not promise the add-on experience to people who only have Copilot Chat. The session can be in your workplace or live by video.
Catch-up tasks follow Microsoft's pages 'What is Microsoft Copilot?', 'Overview of Microsoft Copilot Chat' and the Microsoft Copilot application card.
Before you start: A work account with Outlook or Teams, and at least one of Copilot Chat or Copilot in the apps. You do not need Copilot Studio or admin rights.
What we cover
- The label on your accountSee whether you have Copilot Chat (Basic), Microsoft 365 Copilot (Basic) or Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium). Ask the same of your team before you standardise a prompt that needs work data across Microsoft 365.
- Catch up after time awaySummarise recent mail and meeting recaps, and list decisions and actions. Discard anything you cannot trace to a message or a meeting.
- A briefing from files you can openAsk Copilot to summarise documents you already have permission to open. With the add-on, grounding can span those files. Without it, upload or open the file you mean.
- A note to the teamDraft a short update from the checked points. Use tone coaching if the note is sensitive. You edit the draft before it is posted.
- A checking ruleAgree what the team may send with Copilot help, and what needs a person to confirm names, figures and commitments. Point people to the foundations course for the hands-on app practice.
- What to ask of ITIf staff can open sites they should not, that is a rollout question, not a prompt question. Take it to the readiness work rather than hoping Copilot will hide it.
We adjust the content to your team, and use your own documents and tasks for the exercises.
Who does this kind of work
63.6% of employed New Zealanders, about 1,669,000 people, work in the desk-based occupation groups (in bold) where Microsoft Copilot helps most. Each town page shows the local share, so you can see how a rollout would size up where you are.
Employed New Zealanders by occupation group, 2023
| Occupation group | Chart | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 18.3% | |
| Professionals | 26.8% | |
| Technicians and trades workers | 12.5% | |
| Community and personal service workers | 9.0% | |
| Clerical and administrative workers | 10.8% | |
| Sales workers | 7.8% | |
| Machinery operators and drivers | 5.9% | |
| Labourers | 9.0% |
Desk-based = ANZSCO major groups 1, 2, 5 and 6 (managers, professionals, clerical and administrative, sales): roles where AI assistance is most applicable. Broad proxy informed by ILO 2025; not measured adoption or an employment forecast.
Source: Stats NZ, 2023 Census, usually resident employed people; ILO, Generative AI and jobs: a refined global index of occupational exposure (2025).
Other courses
1Introductory
Microsoft Copilot foundations
A first hands-on session on Copilot Chat and Copilot in Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
2Practical
Microsoft Copilot for a working day
A full day that takes one real piece of work through Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and Teams.
3Organisation
Copilot rollout and readiness
Prepare the tenant, choose a pilot, and measure whether people use Copilot well.
4Advanced
Copilot Studio agents and advanced Excel
Build and test a Copilot Studio agent for one internal process, and go further with Copilot in Excel.
Industries this course suits
Guides
Available in every region, for example Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington. See all locations.
Questions about this course
What formats can we book?
Half a day in the workplace, or live by video. A management team can attend together.
Is this the rollout course?
No. This course is for managers using Copilot on their own work, and for the rule they set. Tenant permissions, labels and licence assignment are the rollout course.
Can I rely on a briefing Copilot writes?
No. Use it to find and draft. Read the source before you forward a briefing or make a decision from it.
Ask about Copilot for managers
- ScopeHeadcount, sites, Microsoft 365 plan and licences, and the teams you want to start with.
- PlanWe propose a course, a pilot group and a format, and agree the files and meetings to use.
- TrainOn-site or over Teams, in Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams, with your own work.
- In person
- Remote
- Half-day workshop
- Full-day workshop
- Team rollout
Independent training by TheColab. Not affiliated with Microsoft.
Enquire
Tell us about your team. We reply by email with a suggested course and format.