Authority-First Headlines Skill

Purpose

Core Pattern

• A measurable result
• A recognized institution
• A senior audience
• A hard operating context
• A respected company, university, publication, or framework
• A concrete proof point such as "used by 20+ engineers"
• A rare achievement, ranking, certification, or adoption signal

Rewrite Rules

1. Lead with proof before explanation.
   • Weak: "A tool for setting up AI development environments."
   • Stronger: "The AI workstation setup method adapted from senior engineering workflows."
2. Prefer specific authority over vague authority.
   • Weak: "Trusted by professionals."
   • Stronger: "Used by 20+ engineers and technical leaders."
3. Borrowed authority must be truthful and traceable.
   • Acceptable: "Adapted from practices learned from a senior engineering lead, then customized for my own workflow."
   • Not acceptable: "Google's official workflow" unless it actually is official.
4. Do not overclaim ownership of institutional authority.
   • Say "inspired by," "adapted from," "used in," "learned from," or "based on public guidance from" when appropriate.
   • Avoid implying endorsement.
5. Add curiosity when possible.
   • Weak: "How to prioritize automation."
   • Stronger: "The 770-hour automation opportunity hidden behind a 41-hour roadmap."

Headline Templates

• [Authority proof] + [result] + [reader promise]

• [Recognized source/framework] + [practical application]

• [Unexpected contrast] + [outcome] + [how-to promise]

• [Senior audience adopted X] + Here's how it works

• [Hard constraint] + [surprising result] + [repeatable method]

Checklist

• Does the title answer "why should I trust this?"
• Does it contain a concrete proof point if available?
• Does it avoid false endorsement?
• Does it make the reader curious?
• Does it imply a useful method, not just a finished artifact?