The short answer
An AI workflow checklist defines which inputs are permitted, what the tool may produce, who reviews the output and how the result enters the next process. It should include a route for uncertainty. A handoff is incomplete when a colleague receives a polished output without knowing what was checked or which source it used.
1. Start with a clear purpose
Map the point of decision. Separate drafting, checking and approving so the final responsibility is visible.
2. Make the work and ownership visible
Write an escalation route for uncertain results. Include an owner, an expected response time and a record of what was decided.
3. Agree the next action
Review the handoff with the people doing the work. Keep the useful steps and remove checks that repeat the same judgment.
Leave with a usable decision.
Write down the next action, who owns it and when you will check the result. Keep the decision where the people doing the work can find it.
A practical example
A colleague uses a tool to draft a training outline. The next person receives the approved source list, the intended audience, the version reviewed and two unresolved questions. The colleague does not forward the draft as an approved training program. The learning owner checks the remaining questions and decides what is ready to use.
A working template you can adapt
| Part of the work | What to record or ask |
|---|---|
| Input owner | Confirm the information is suitable for the tool and task. |
| Output reviewer | Check the result against the original requirement. |
| Handoff record | State what was checked and what remains uncertain. |
| Exception owner | Decide what happens when an output cannot be verified. |
Questions to work through
Does a checked output need another review after editing?
Review the parts that materially changed and any dependent conclusions. Keep the approved version easy to identify so a later edit is not mistaken for the version that passed the original check.
Where should the AI handoff record live?
Put it with the work the next person will use. A separate private chat is difficult to find and may omit the context needed for a decision. Follow the organization’s information-handling requirements.
Connect this with the next decision
Keep moving.
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