# Ask another team for help on a cross-team dependency

A request message another team can say yes to, with clear scope, timing, and what's in it for them.

- Topic: Email & Workplace Communication
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Write, Analyze, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/ask-another-team-for-help-on-a-cross-team-dependency

## Prompt

```text
Write a request to another team for work my feature depends on.

**Team and person I am asking:** [TEAM, LEAD, RELATIONSHIP]
**What I need from them:** [SPECIFIC WORK - e.g. a new API endpoint, a data field, a design review]
**Why it matters:** [USER OR BUSINESS OUTCOME, LINK TO COMPANY GOALS]
**When I need it and why:** [DATE, WHAT HAPPENS IF IT SLIPS]
**What we can do to reduce their effort:** [e.g. we write the spec, we contribute code, we handle testing]
**Their current priorities, if known:** [CONTEXT]

Requirements:
- Open with the specific ask and the date in the first two sentences.
- Define the need precisely enough to estimate: inputs, outputs, acceptance criteria, and what is out of scope.
- Explain the value to them or to a shared goal, not just to my team.
- Offer options if the full ask is hard: smaller version, later date, our team doing part of it.
- Propose a next step: a 20-minute call or a reply by a date.
- Respectful, not entitled. No guilt or escalation threats.

Return:
1. The message for chat or email (under 200 words).
2. A short dependency summary I can paste into the ticket.
3. A follow-up note to send if I hear nothing in a week, and when escalating to managers is appropriate.
```

## What to fill in

- TEAM, LEAD, RELATIONSHIP
- USER OR BUSINESS OUTCOME, LINK TO COMPANY GOALS
- DATE, WHAT HAPPENS IF IT SLIPS
- e.g. we write the spec, we contribute code, we handle testing
- CONTEXT

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.