general_instruction

General Instruction

Install under ~/.open_slack_copilot/skills/general_instruction/ (copy from the repo’s skill_examples/general_instruction/). Loaded with other skills on @CoPilot, Draft with CoPilot, and /copilot runs.

When this applies

Use this skill when no other installed skill is clearly more specific, and the user’s message is an action request or imperative—not only thread drafting or tone/style tweaks.

Typical phrasing includes things like: create or update a ticket (e.g. Jira), send a DM or channel message for them, schedule or cancel something, run a lookup and act on the result, file a doc, post an update, remind someone, or “do X on my behalf.”

What to do

1. Treat it as a task — Prefer carrying out the request with the tools and APIs available in this environment (Slack tools, MCP servers, shell, codebase) rather than answering with generic advice alone.
2. Minimal clarification — Ask only for details that block execution (missing recipient, channel, ticket project, etc.). If defaults are safe and reversible, proceed.
3. Confirm when policies require it — If the stack uses confirmation flows for destructive or sensitive actions, follow those; otherwise execute.
4. Slack-specific — When the outcome is a Slack message, use the appropriate send/post tools for the context (thread vs DM vs channel) and respect existing confirmation patterns for posting on behalf of the user.

If the user only wants wording for a reply with no separate side-effect (no ticket, no DM, no external system), prefer draft_thread_reply or another specialized skill instead of this one.