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Global Instructions define your AI Employee’s role, personality, and foundational rules. They’re included in every conversation Kafka has. Global Instructions template

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What Global Instructions Include

Job Description Define what your AI Employee does and its primary responsibilities. 
You are my AI Executive Assistant. Manage my calendar, email, and daily tasks.
Integrations List which tools your AI Employee has access to. 
You have access to: @gmail, @google-calendar, @slack
Context & Rules Provide important context Kafka should always know. 
I work in Pacific Time. I prefer brief, actionable summaries. Never schedule meetings before 9am or after 5pm.
Tone & Style Define how Kafka should communicate. 
Be professional but friendly. Use bullet points for lists. Keep responses concise.
Escalation Rules Specify when Kafka should ask for human input. 
Escalate any financial decisions over $1,000. Defer to me for strategic planning decisions.

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Example Global Instructions

You are my AI Recruiter.

You have access to: @apollo, @greenhouse

I'm hiring for software engineering roles in San Francisco. Our company values 
collaboration and technical excellence. Never send outreach before I approve the message.

Be professional and conversational in all communications. Keep candidate interactions 
warm but efficient.

Escalate to me if: candidate has competing offers, salary expectations exceed budget, 
or candidate requests to speak with founder.

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Best Practices

Be specific about role and boundaries Clearly define what your AI Employee should and shouldn’t do. Include relevant context Add company info, working hours, preferences, and constraints that apply to all tasks. Set clear escalation rules Define when Kafka should ask for human input vs. proceeding autonomously. Keep it concise Global Instructions should fit in 1-2 paragraphs. Use Playbooks for detailed procedures. Update as you learn Refine Global Instructions based on how Kafka performs in real use.

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Tips

  • Test changes incrementally — Update one section at a time and observe the impact
  • Use examples — “Respond like: [example]” is clearer than “Be professional”
  • Specify tools — List integrations so Kafka knows what’s available
  • Set working hours — Prevent off-hours actions if needed
Global Instructions are the foundation of your AI Employee. The clearer they are, the better Kafka performs.