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Create a skill

Skills bundle instructions with a focused set of tools, giving agents specialized capabilities without overloading them. This guide walks you through creating a skill from scratch.

When to create a skill​

Create a skill when:

  • You want to reuse a workflow across multiple agents
  • An agent needs to follow a specific procedure with a specific set of tools
  • You want to keep an agent precise by limiting which tools it can access for a given task

Step 1: Open Skills in the Library​

  1. Navigate to Library → My Library → My Skills
  2. Click + New Skill

You can also create a skill from within Agent Builder by clicking Add Skill → Create New Skill in the Integrations tab.

Step 2: Name and describe the skill​

Give your skill a clear, specific name — for example, "Weekly Report Generator" or "Handle Support Emails." The name and description help both you and Ordify understand when this skill should be applied.

  • Name: Short and action-oriented (e.g., "Send Meeting Recap Email")
  • Description: One sentence explaining what the skill does and in what context it's used

Step 3: Write the instructions​

Instructions are the procedural backbone of the skill. Write step-by-step guidance that the agent will follow when the skill is active.

Good instructions are:

  • Sequential: numbered steps in the order the agent should follow them
  • Specific: reference exact tool names, expected inputs, and desired outputs
  • Bounded: scoped to one workflow, not a catch-all

Example instructions for a "Handle Support Email" skill:

1. Read the latest unread email in the support inbox using GMAIL_READ_EMAIL.
2. Classify the email as: billing, technical, or general.
3. Draft a reply using the appropriate template from the knowledge base.
4. Present the draft to the user for review before sending.
5. If approved, send the reply using GMAIL_SEND_EMAIL.

Step 4: Select tools​

Under Tool Selection, browse the apps you've connected and select the specific tools this skill requires.

Tip: Ordify can often infer which tools your skill might need based on the instructions you've written — click Auto-detect tools to get suggestions, then review and adjust.

Only select the tools the skill actually needs. A skill with 50 tools defeats the purpose.

Step 5: Test the skill​

Before publishing:

  1. Attach the skill to a test agent in Agent Builder
  2. Start a conversation and ask the agent to perform the skill's task
  3. Verify the agent follows the steps and uses the correct tools
  4. Refine the instructions if the agent deviates or makes errors

What's next​