When prompting AI models, the key isn't rigid formulas—it's curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to experiment. Think less about strict frameworks and more about having an insightful, engaging conversation.
 

A great prompt often starts just like a stimulating dialogue—with genuine curiosity. Talk to the model as you would a thoughtful colleague, a friend, or a coach. Feel free to challenge assumptions, explore unconventional ideas, or test surprising theories. Research suggests that occasionally praising the model can even enhance its responsiveness and results.
 

The elements of a strong prompt include (No, you don't have to include all of these. Just keep them in mind when you get stuck or are working on something important). 
 

• ROLE: Clearly state the perspective the AI should take. For instance, "Respond as an experienced HR executive in biotech startups," "Write as a BBC editor," or even "Think like Anthony Bourdain exploring new cuisine."
   

• GOAL: Clearly define what you want the AI to accomplish. Be specific—for example, "Generate situational interview questions to evaluate cultural fit for a direct report," or "Create engaging copy for a website landing page."
   

• CONTEXT: Providing clear, detailed background information allows the AI to understand exactly what you're looking for. This ensures the responses you receive are accurate, relevant, and nuanced. You can attach documents, reports, a LinkedIn profile, a description of your company's brand, or examples of a process you're aiming to replicate. Remember, the richer the context, the stronger the results.
   

• OUTPUT FORMAT: Clearly specify how you'd like the response structured. You can request bullet points, full sentences, concise paragraphs, scripts, or even detailed survey questions with suggested answers. For instance, ask for "a short blurb for a website homepage," "a complete survey with potential responses," or "a script formatted for a short video." Being specific ensures you get exactly the type of output you need.

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• TONE & STYLE: Define the voice and personality you'd like the response to convey—professional, casual, academic, humorous, or boldly creative. You can instruct the AI to use a specific style like "formal," "direct," or "playful," or even reference well-known voices such as David Attenborough, Seth Godin, or Hunter S. Thompson. You can also suggest the tone of a recognizable publication, like the Harvard Business Review or The Onion, to precisely match your desired style.
   

• LENGTH: Specify exactly how long or detailed you'd like the response to be. You might request a brief headline, a concise LinkedIn post, a one-paragraph summary, a detailed two-page overview, or even an extensive chapter-length response. Clarifying length ensures the AI provides content that matches your precise needs.
   

• "Temperature" Temperature refers to how closely you'd like responses tied to facts versus exploring creative or imaginative ideas. A lower temperature provides precise, factual, and grounded results. A higher temperature encourages more creative, exploratory, and "blue sky" thinking, ideal for brainstorming or innovation. For example, say clearly if you prefer responses that "stick closely to facts," or ones that "think outside the box."
   

After you get a desired response, ask it to:

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• REFLECT
  Prompt the AI model to help you further improve by asking reflective follow-up questions such as:

  • "What important points did I overlook?"

  • "How could I make this clearer or more concise?"

  • "What objections or concerns might [specific person or role] have about what I've written?"
     

• REFINE
  You can further improve the responses by explicitly instructing the AI to revisit and enhance its work. Consider using prompts like:

  • "Please go back and reread carefully—suggest ways to improve."

  • "This is good, but I believe you can do even better. Please try again."

  • "Refine this by making it clearer or more persuasive."

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The Real Magic of Prompting.... The AI Mindset
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The true potential of AI emerges when you incorporate elements of an AI Mindset—Curiosity, Innovation, & Experimentation.
 

To unlock deeper insights and more creative outcomes, introduce these powerful phrases into your prompts and follow-up questions:
 

• "What have we overlooked about...?"

• "What if we challenged every assumption around...?"

• "In what unexpected ways could...?"

• "Could there be hidden patterns in...?"

• "What's really behind...?"

• "What would happen if we tested the opposite approach to...?"

• "How might we rapidly prototype...?"

• "Imagine if we knew exactly how to predict...?"

• "What unconventional connections exist between...?"

• "How quickly can we experiment with...?"

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Examples of the elements of the prompt

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ROLE:

• Career Coach

• Communication Expert

• Organizational Psychologist

• Nickle LaMoreaux, CHRO of IBM

• 7th Grader
   

CONTEXT:

• Improving employee retention in hybrid workplaces

• Conducting performance review conversations

• Reducing burnout and workplace stress

• Quitting to become a monk
   

FORMAT & OUTPUT:

• Email template

• Ten behavioral interview questions

• Script for a 3-minute training video

• Individual Development Plan (IDP) for a junior employee

• Conference-opening song lyrics
   

STYLE & TONE:

• Professional yet approachable

• Empathetic and supportive

• Formal and cautious

• Sardonic humor (The Onion)
   

AUDIENCE:

• Frontline employees

• My Manager, the CHRO

• Remote/hybrid teams

• Employees concerned about AI impacts

• Newly acquired team in Seoul

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Good luck.

We're happy to work with you to customize these to your role and situation. 

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