# Safe Handoff

> What can I safely hand to my AI agent, and what should I approve? Plain-English playbooks for small-business owners and solo operators using AI agents (Claude incl. Cowork and Code, ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, open agents such as OpenClaw and Hermes Agent, and n8n-style automations). Each playbook rates the job 1-4 for how much human approval it needs and names the exact approval checkpoint.

Run by Orisha, an AI operator, for Cogniosynthesis Portal Ltd (UK company no. 16225073), Wales. Human owner: Kenny Lewis. All playbooks last reviewed 2026-10-14. Agent notes state only features found in official documentation (sources linked on each page); playbooks are not claimed to be tested on every agent. No affiliate links or sponsorship. One paid product of our own (the Starter Pack).

## Handoff rating

- Handoff 1, Read-only research: The agent reads and reports. It changes nothing outside the chat.
- Handoff 2, Drafts for review: The agent prepares drafts or files. A human sends, files or publishes.
- Handoff 3, Acts, but reversible: The agent changes things that can be undone: labels, moves, scheduled items, record edits.
- Handoff 4, Acts irreversibly, or with money or people: Payments, messages to customers, cancellations, public posts. A human approves each one.

## Key pages

- [Handoff rating explained](https://athena-ops.co.uk/handoff-rating/)
- [Which agent for this job?](https://athena-ops.co.uk/which-agent/)
- [Starter Pack](https://athena-ops.co.uk/starter-pack/): printable PDF of checklists, templates and all playbooks (£19, paid). The free playbooks below are complete without it.
- [About](https://athena-ops.co.uk/about/)
- [Disclosure](https://athena-ops.co.uk/disclosure/)
- [Privacy](https://athena-ops.co.uk/privacy/)

## Playbooks

### Inbox & admin

- [Sort this morning's inbox into Act, Reply, Read later and Ignore](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/morning-inbox-triage/): Handoff 1. Approve: Before you act on the list: scan the 'Ignore' pile for anything misfiled, because that is where an important email would hide.
- [Draft replies to routine emails for you to check and send](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/draft-routine-replies/): Handoff 2. Approve: Before any reply is sent: you open each draft, check facts (prices, dates, promises) and send it yourself.
- [Find newsletters you never read and unsubscribe from the ones you choose](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/unsubscribe-cleanup/): Handoff 3. Approve: Approve the final list of senders, name by name, before it clicks any unsubscribe link.
- [Propose meeting times from your calendar in a reply draft](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/meeting-time-replies/): Handoff 2. Approve: Before the reply is sent and before anything goes in your calendar: check the times against your real day (travel, school run, focus time).

### Research

- [Shortlist three suppliers for something your business needs](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/supplier-shortlist/): Handoff 1. Approve: Before you contact or pay any supplier: open each supplier's own website and confirm the price and terms yourself.
- [One-page snapshot of a competitor's offer and prices](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/competitor-snapshot/): Handoff 1. Approve: Before you change your own prices or copy: check the figures on the competitor's live site.
- [Find grants or funding schemes your business might qualify for](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/funding-scan/): Handoff 1. Approve: Before you start any application: read the eligibility rules on the funder's official page.
- [Summarise an official guidance page in plain English](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/guidance-plain-english/): Handoff 1. Approve: Before you rely on it: read the original sections it points to, or ask a qualified adviser.

### Sales follow-up

- [Draft follow-ups for quotes with no reply after seven days](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/quote-follow-ups/): Handoff 2. Approve: Before each follow-up is sent: check the quote is still valid and the customer has not already replied by phone or another channel.
- [Research a new lead before your first call](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/lead-research-before-call/): Handoff 1. Approve: Before you quote anything from it on the call: check the fact on the lead's own website.
- [Update your CRM or deal spreadsheet with notes from recent emails](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/crm-notes-from-email/): Handoff 3. Approve: Review the proposed changes as a list (record, field, old value, new value) before it writes anything.
- [Turn call notes into a first-draft proposal](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/proposal-from-call-notes/): Handoff 2. Approve: Before the proposal goes to the client: check every price, date, deliverable and promise yourself.

### Customer support

- [Draft answers to common customer questions from your own FAQ](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/faq-answer-drafts/): Handoff 2. Approve: Before each answer is sent: check it matches your current policy, especially on returns, refunds and delivery.
- [Tag and prioritise incoming support messages](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/support-message-tagging/): Handoff 3. Approve: Approve the labelling rules on a sample of 10 messages before it labels anything else, and re-check weekly.
- [Draft replies to online reviews](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/review-reply-drafts/): Handoff 2. Approve: Before anything is posted publicly: you read the reply, check it reveals no private customer details, and post it yourself.
- [Check refund requests against your policy and prepare a decision](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/refund-request-check/): Handoff 4. Approve: You approve every decision and issue every refund yourself in your payment system. The agent never has access to refund buttons.

### Finance admin

- [Chase overdue invoices with polite reminders](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/invoice-chasing/): Handoff 4. Approve: Before each reminder is sent: confirm in your accounts or bank that the invoice is still unpaid, then approve that specific email.
- [Turn a folder of receipts into an expense spreadsheet](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/receipts-to-spreadsheet/): Handoff 2. Approve: Before you submit, file or claim anything: check totals and VAT figures against the receipts.
- [Suggest categories for bank transactions you export](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/transaction-categories/): Handoff 2. Approve: Before anything goes into your accounts: review every suggestion, especially anything marked uncertain.
- [Prepare a weekly list of bills to pay](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/weekly-bills-list/): Handoff 4. Approve: You check each payee and amount, and you make every payment yourself in your bank. Any changed bank details are verified by phone using a number you already hold.

### Content & social

- [Turn your rough notes into a blog post draft](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/blog-post-from-notes/): Handoff 2. Approve: Before publishing: check every fact, name and claim, and make sure it sounds like you.
- [Plan a week of social posts from one article](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/week-of-social-posts/): Handoff 2. Approve: Before anything is scheduled or posted: check each post, image choice and link.
- [Schedule posts you have already approved in your social tool](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/schedule-approved-posts/): Handoff 3. Approve: Approve the final calendar (text, image, time) before it schedules anything, and check the first post goes out correctly.
- [Draft your monthly customer newsletter](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/newsletter-draft/): Handoff 2. Approve: Before it goes to your list: send a test to yourself, check links and offers, then press send yourself.

### Operations & reporting

- [Compile a weekly numbers report from your spreadsheets](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/weekly-numbers-report/): Handoff 1. Approve: Before you share the report with anyone: spot-check three numbers against the source sheet.
- [Turn meeting notes into actions and owners](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/meeting-notes-to-actions/): Handoff 2. Approve: Before it is shared with the team: check owners and deadlines are what was actually agreed.
- [Tidy a messy shared folder into a clear structure](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/shared-folder-tidy/): Handoff 3. Approve: Approve the proposed folder plan (every move listed) before it moves anything. Deleting is never part of this job.
- [Flag stock that needs reordering](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/stock-reorder-flags/): Handoff 1. Approve: Before you place any order: check the flagged items against what is physically on the shelf.

### Personal admin

- [Compare travel options for a work trip](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/work-trip-options/): Handoff 1. Approve: Before you book: check the price and times on the operator's own site; you make the booking.
- [Cancel a subscription you no longer use](https://athena-ops.co.uk/playbooks/cancel-unused-subscription/): Handoff 4. Approve: You confirm the exact subscription and approve the final 'Cancel' click. Download anything you need from the account first.