Managing Email with Microsoft 365 Copilot in Outlook

Email is the most common workplace communication tool - and the most time-consuming. Long threads pile up, replies require careful context, and action items get buried. Microsoft 365 Copilot in Outlook changes this by giving you an AI assistant that lives directly inside your inbox.

In this lab, you will work through a realistic "Monday morning catch-up" scenario. You will open Outlook, use Copilot to summarize lengthy email threads so you can get up to speed in seconds, draft context-aware replies with adjustable tone and length, and use Copilot coaching to polish your messages before sending. By the end, you will have a repeatable workflow for managing email faster and more effectively every day.

Objectives

Upon completing this beginner level lab, you will be able to:

• Verify that Microsoft 365 Copilot is available and active in your Outlook environment
• Summarize long email threads using Copilot to identify key points, decisions, and open questions
• Draft context-aware email replies using Copilot and customize tone, length, and style
• Use Coaching by Copilot to review and improve email drafts before sending
• Extract action items, owners, and deadlines from email conversations using Copilot prompts

Who is this lab for?

This lab is designed for:

• Business professionals and knowledge workers who want to reduce time spent managing email and respond to messages faster
• Microsoft 365 users new to Copilot looking for practical, immediate-impact skills they can apply every day

Prerequisites

To complete this lab, you will need:

• A Microsoft 365 account with Copilot license (Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on)
• Microsoft Outlook - desktop app (classic or new) or Outlook on the web (outlook.office.com)
• Basic ability to open, read, and reply to email - no prior Copilot experience required