Instructions such as “make it more polished” can leave a new colleague guessing. Asking for an example can make the standard easier to discuss, especially when you also ask which parts of the example matter.
Request a comparison you can use
Try: “Is there a previous version that shows the level of detail you want?” This narrows the request to a specific uncertainty. An example of structure may help more than a finished document on an unrelated subject.
When someone shares a sample, ask whether it is current and appropriate for your audience. A document that worked for one recipient may contain assumptions or detail that would confuse another. Do not treat every feature as a requirement.
Extract a short working standard
Write down two or three relevant features: a summary at the beginning, a source beside each figure, or a clear recommendation at the end. Confirm the features if the task is consequential or still ambiguous.
Then produce a small section of your own work for review. This tests your interpretation before you copy a whole format. Examples are most useful when they support shared understanding; they become less useful when they encourage imitation without attention to the new task’s purpose, audience, and constraints.