# How to Have a Productive Conversation With AVA

> AVA responds to plain language. Learn how to frame questions, give context, handle clarification, and get the most from 173 tools in a single conversation.
> Help → AVA AI → How to Have a Productive Conversation With AVA

URL: https://thatapp.io/help/ava-ai/ava-chat-guide
Category: AVA AI — Your Organizational Brain

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AVA understands plain language. You do not need to know command syntax or tool names. But a few habits will get you better results faster.

**Lead with the outcome, not the process**

Tell AVA what you want to accomplish, not how you think she should accomplish it.

Better: "I need to find all Podio records that were deleted in the last 30 days."
Worse: "Search the deleted items database for Podio records."

Better: "Build an automation that emails me when a Salesforce deal closes."
Worse: "Create a webhook trigger that calls the email action."

**Give context when it matters**

If you are working on a specific project, client, or platform, say so up front.

> "I'm working on the Acme account in Salesforce. I need to see all activity from the last 90 days."

AVA will scope her response to that context. If you leave context out, she will ask.

**Ask follow-up questions**

AVA maintains context within a conversation. You can follow up without re-explaining.

> "Show me the five most recent records."
> "Now show me who last modified each one."
> "Restore the third one."

Each message builds on the last.

**Confirm before irreversible actions**

AVA will always ask for confirmation before restoring a record, activating an automation, deleting data, or sending an invitation. Read the confirmation summary before confirming. It tells you exactly what will happen.

**If AVA is not understanding you**

Rephrase with more specificity. Tell her which platform, which record type, and what time range. The more specific your question, the more accurate her answer.

If she is asking clarifying questions repeatedly, it usually means your request is ambiguous in a way that matters. Answer her questions — she is narrowing to the right thing.

**Starting a new topic**

AVA carries context throughout a conversation. If you are shifting to a completely different task, you can either start a new conversation or tell her explicitly: "New topic —" and continue.

**Related:** What AVA Can Do (All 173 Actions) · Introducing AVA