ChatGPT Prompt Generator

You’re likely among the 75% of knowledge workers using AI and ChatGPT. But are you using it to its fullest potential?

Today, we're diving into a game-changing skill that can dramatically improve your interactions with AI tools: the art of prompt engineering.

Why Prompt Engineering Matters

‍Most people, even at the executive level, underutilize AI tools. They often input vague or simplistic prompts that yield mediocre results, treating these sophisticated systems like simple search engines.

What most people don’t understand is that ChatGPT and other generative AI tools aren’t software or technology… they are new team members.

This mind shift is critical. Recent research from Asana and Anthropic shows that those who treat AI as a teammate get exponentially more out of it.

And as an experienced professional, you understand the value of effective delegation. The clearer your briefing, the better the output.

The same principles that make you successful in leading teams and driving business outcomes apply when working with AI.

Think of AI as a highly capable team member with vast knowledge but no context about your specific needs, industry nuances, or business objectives.

Your role is providing context and clear direction to get the most valuable output. Just as you wouldn't ask a new hire to "improve our marketing" without providing specifics, you shouldn't approach AI with overly broad requests.‍

The Cost of Poor Prompts

‍Ineffective prompts lead to several issues:

• Wasted Time: You spend more time refining and re-prompting to get usable results.
• Missed Opportunities: Vague prompts often miss critical insights that could drive innovation or solve complex problems.
• Suboptimal Decision-Making: If you're basing strategies on AI outputs, poor prompts can lead to incomplete or irrelevant information, potentially affecting your decision-making process.

The Super Prompt Framework

To transform your AI interactions and avoid these pitfalls, we've developed a "Super Prompt" framework.

This structure helps you provide the AI with the context and specificity it needs to deliver high-quality, relevant results.

Here's the framework:‍

• Set the AI's Role: "Please imagine that you are [specific expert role relevant to your task]."

‍Why it works: This primes the AI to draw upon relevant knowledge and adopt an appropriate tone.‍

• Define Your Need: Clearly state what you need and why.

‍Why it works: This ensures the AI understands the purpose and can tailor its response accordingly.‍

• Provide Context: Give background information about your business, audience, or specific situation.

‍Why it works: The AI can customize its response to your unique circumstances.‍

• Set Focus and Boundaries: Specify what the AI should focus on and what to avoid.

‍Why it works: This helps prevent irrelevant information and targets the response.

• ‍Define the Output: Describe the desired result's format, length, and style.

‍Why it works: This ensures you get a response in a format that's immediately useful to you.

• ‍Share Current Progress: Provide examples or current work to guide the AI if applicable.

‍Why it works: This gives the AI a starting point and helps it understand your thought process.

Putting It Into Practice

Let's look at a real-world example. Instead of asking, "Write a marketing plan for Q4," which would likely yield generic results, a super prompt might look like this:

"Dear ChatGPT, I need your help on something. Please imagine that you are an experienced CMO with a track record of successful Q4 campaigns in the B2B SaaS industry. I need to create a marketing plan for Q4 that will be presented to our board of directors next week. We're a mid-sized company offering project management software, targeting enterprise clients in the US and Europe. Our goal is to increase user acquisition by 20% over last quarter.

In the process, you should focus on digital marketing strategies, content marketing, and account-based marketing approaches. Please avoid generic advice and focus on innovative, data-driven tactics. Consider our position as a challenger brand in a competitive market, and our limited budget compared to larger competitors.

The final output should be a bullet-point list of 5-7 key strategies, each with 2-3 sentences of explanation and potential KPIs. Also, include a brief section on potential risks and mitigation strategies for each approach.

Here's what I have so far: [Insert any existing ideas or work]

Thank you for supporting me with your expertise."

‍Why this works:‍

• You clearly define which part of its infinite knowledge ChatGPT should use.
• You share what’s actually expected, and with which goal in mind.
• You’re giving the freedom of a tight brief by defining do’s and don’ts.

‍The Power of Iteration‍

Remember, the first output is just a starting point.

Don't hesitate to refine your prompt or ask for more specific details in subsequent interactions.

This iterative process often leads to the most valuable insights. You might follow up with requests like:

• "Can you expand on the content marketing strategy, specifically focusing on thought leadership opportunities?"
• "How would you adjust these strategies if our primary target shifted to the healthcare sector?"
• "Can you provide a rough timeline for implementing these strategies over the quarter?"
• Sometimes, it’s also helpful to simply say: “Please try that again.”

‍Overcoming Common Pitfalls‍

As you refine your prompt engineering skills, be aware of these common mistakes:

• Overcomplicating: While detail is good, avoid making prompts so complex that they become confusing.
• Neglecting to Specify Output Format: Always clarify how you want the information presented (e.g., bullet points, paragraphs, table).
• Forgetting to Set Boundaries: You might receive irrelevant or off-topic information without specifying what to avoid.
• Ignoring the Iterative Process: Don't settle for the first response if it's not what you need.

‍Conclusion‍

By adopting this super prompt approach, you're not just using AI – you're leveraging it as a powerful extension of your team's capabilities.

This skill can significantly enhance your decision-making processes, strategic planning, and productivity. Mastering prompt engineering gives you a significant edge when agility and informed decision-making are crucial.

I encourage you to experiment with this framework in your day-to-day tasks.

Whether brainstorming new product features, analyzing market trends, crafting communication strategies, or solving complex operational challenges, effective prompt engineering can provide richer, more relevant insights to drive your business forward.

Remember, the goal isn't to replace human expertise but to augment it.

By effectively communicating with AI, you're creating a powerful synergy between human creativity and machine intelligence. This combination can lead to breakthrough innovations, more efficient operations, and a stronger competitive position in your industry.

As you refine your prompt engineering skills, you'll likely discover new ways to apply this tool to various aspects of your business.

Share your successes with your team and consider integrating these practices into your organization's workflow.

The future of business leadership lies in effectively harnessing the power of AI, and mastering prompt engineering is a crucial step in that journey.

Want to learn more about ChatGPT Prompting? Explore our Become A SuperPrompter Mini-Course.‍

Done prompting? Here are our favorite AI tools – all hand-picked by us:

• Free AI Tools
• ‍Top AI Websites
• AI Productivity Tools

And if you're an executive, check out our Lead with AI course, kicking off on September 2.