How to Talk to AI: A CEO's Guide to Crafting Effective Prompts for Smart Results
Brett Schklar
CEO 2.0 Champion - Leveraging the Velocity of AI for the Next Generation of Leaders
As a CEO, you’re no stranger to streamlining communication, but talking to AI systems is a whole different game. I'm pretty sure you find yourself talking to AI bots like ChatGPT but feel frustrated, as if you're speaking a 'foreign' language to them, because you're not getting the results you want!
The key to harnessing AI’s power lies in how you talk to it. Whether you’re integrating AI to improve operations, enhance customer experience, or transform your business, mastering the art of crafting effective prompts can save you time, frustration, and maybe --even your sanity.
In a recent poll conducted by our team, we gathered insights from 142 business leaders on how they make AI responses more aligned with their needs.
The most favored approach, chosen by 35% of respondents, is using structured queries. This shows that just like providing a clear direction to your team, well-organized prompts help AI focus and deliver precise results. Also, 26% of leaders highlighted the importance of adjusting the tone or prompts, emphasizing that refining your language can significantly improve the quality of AI output—much like tailoring communication for different audiences in business.
Another 23% recommended giving clear examples, which helps guide AI toward more accurate and relevant responses, akin to using benchmarks or case studies in strategy. Lastly, 16% of respondents suggested breaking tasks down into smaller components, ensuring AI can handle complex requests more effectively.
Why Prompts Matter for CEOs
At its core, a prompt is a set of instructions or a question you give to an AI to generate a response. The quality and clarity of your prompt directly influence the effectiveness of the AI’s output.
Think of it as giving directions; the clearer and more precise your directions, the better the AI can understand and fulfill your request.
Keep It Clear and Concise
The first rule of crafting effective prompts is clarity. Ambiguous or overly complex prompts can confuse the AI, leading to unsatisfactory results. Aim to be as specific as possible, note that 35%?say that using?structured queries?is the most effective way to get AI to align with their needs.
This tells us that AI, much like your executive team, thrives on structure. Instead of saying, “Tell me about our business,” opt for something like, “Analyze the top 3 trends affecting SaaS renewals in Q4.” The more structured and specific you are, the more targeted and useful the AI’s response will be.
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Context is Key
Business leaders emphasize?giving clear examples?when interacting with AI, so you should provide enough context for the AI to understand exactly what you’re asking. If you're asking about a particular topic, giving background information or specifying the angle you’re interested in can help.
For instance, "What are the benefits of renewable energy?" is a good prompt, but adding, "What are the benefits of renewable energy for small businesses?" makes it even better.
Use Direct Instructions
AI systems often perform best when given direct, actionable instructions. Instead of vague requests like, "Can you help me with my project?" opt for something more specific, such as, "Provide a summary of the latest research on renewable energy technologies." This approach helps the AI zero in on the exact task you need assistance with.
Experiment and Refine
Crafting the perfect prompt is often an iterative process. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different phrasings and structures to see what yields the best results. If the AI’s response isn’t quite what you expected, refine your prompt and try again. Over time, you’ll develop a better sense of how to communicate your needs effectively.
Avoid Overloading
While it might be tempting to cram multiple questions or instructions into a single prompt, this can overwhelm the AI and dilute the quality of the response. Break down complex requests into smaller, manageable parts. For example, instead of asking, "Explain climate change and its impacts on agriculture and health," consider splitting it into two prompts: "Explain the causes of climate change" and "Describe its impacts on agriculture and health."
The Future of AI Interaction
As AI technology continues to evolve, the ability to craft effective prompts will become increasingly important. By mastering the art of clear and concise communication, providing context, using direct instructions, experimenting, and avoiding overload, you can significantly enhance your interactions with AI, leading to smarter and more useful results.
Interested in learning more about optimizing your interactions with AI? Reach out to us today to explore how effective prompt crafting can transform your use of AI technology.
Chief Architect genAI, AI, HC & LS @ Progress | M.Eng.
2 个月My favorite saying these days is “context is King” Been working over the last 18 months on how to do that using semantic RAG.
Client Services Director at Waltz Creative
2 个月This is great Brett Schklar and it's so true. I'm by no means an AI expert, but through my use of it over the last year I quickly realized how important the quality of the prompt is and I've become a pretty good prompt writer as a result. It reminds me of an assembly we had in high school where the speaker had someone turn their back and instruct him on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, like you would if he was a two year old or an alien from another planet who knew nothing of Earth. Then we all sat back and laughed as the student giving instructions said "Get peanut butter, jelly, and bread. Spread the peanut butter on the bread then spread the jelly on the bread," and the speaker rubbed the the jar of peanut butter on the loaf bread, still in it's package, and did the same with jelly. Writing effective AI prompts is kind of like teaching an alien how to make a sandwich. Be explicit, err on the side of over-explanation, don't make assumptions, etc. OK, maybe an alien is a little too far. Speaking to AI like it's a smart intern, like Alex Storey said below, is probably more accurate, but it's the same general principle!
L&D Leader at SUCCESS | Co-Founder, Skill Mammoth | Building scalable training solutions for high-growth teams
2 个月I stole this thought process from a friend, but I always talk to AI like it's a really smart intern. Sure, they've got the book smarts; you just have to teach them how to apply them. And maybe hand-hold a little bit.
Fully Reap the Rewards of Customer-Centricity I President | Growth Strategy Expert I International Professional Speaker I Best-Selling Author | Award-Winning Influencer | BOD and Executive Advisor
2 个月Brett, good topic. One thing that might help is some examples of what's a good prompt and examples of ones that don't meet your recommendations.