When writing prompts for AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude, there’s one powerful question that can instantly improve your results: “Would my new team member understand what I’m asking if I gave them these instructions?”

This simple mindset shift can transform how you approach prompt writing. Instead of treating AI as a magical tool that should somehow know what you want, think of it as a capable new team member who needs clear, detailed instructions to deliver their best work.

Why This Works

When we write instructions for a new team member, we naturally:

• Provide necessary context about the project or situation
• Specify our expectations clearly
• Include relevant background information
• Define what success looks like

Yet when writing prompts for AI, we often skip these crucial details. We might write something like “Create an email about our new product” and feel frustrated when the AI’s response misses the mark.

Making It Practical

Let’s compare two approaches:

Basic prompt:
“Write a sales email”

New-Team-Member-style prompt:
“Write a sales email for our new productivity app launching next week. The target audience is small business owners aged 35-50 who struggle with time management. The email should highlight our key feature: AI-powered schedule optimization. Keep the tone professional but friendly, and include a clear call-to-action for our early-bird discount.”

See the difference? The second version provides the context and details needed for success, just as you would for a team member.

Let’s try another example:

Basic Prompt:
“Write some LinkedIn posts about AI”

New-Team-Member-style Prompt:
“Create 3 LinkedIn posts about practical AI applications in marketing. Each post should be 150-200 words and include:

• 3-4 hashtags focused on marketing and AI
• Target audience is marketing managers looking to implement AI in their workflows.
• Tone should be professional but conversational, similar to sharing insights with industry peers.
• Reference real-world applications rather than theoretical possibilities.”

Much better, right? Just think of your AI tool as a new team member who’s incredibly capable but needs clear direction. The more context and detail you provide, the better equipped they’ll be to deliver what you need.

Quick Tips for Better Prompts

• Include Examples: When relevant, provide examples of what you’re looking for
• Add Context: What’s the background situation? What’s already been tried?
• Define Parameters: What are the must-haves and nice-to-haves?
• Specify Audience: Who is this for? What do they care about?
• Set Expectations: What does success look like? What should be avoided?

Learn, Connect, and Grow in Our AI Community

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• Live Q&A sessions where we tackle real business challenges
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