Structured Prompt Builder
Start with the fundamentals — persona, task, and context.
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Examples
Guide
Define expertise level, industry, and perspective.
Use verbs: Write, Analyze, Summarize, Compare, Generate, Evaluate.
Who's involved? What's the situation? What constraints exist?
Level 1: Structure the Prompt
Structured Prompt: Change Management Message
❌ WEAK PROMPT
"Help me write something about change management."
✓ STRONG PROMPT
"You are a senior change strategist. Write a 250-word message to frontline managers explaining an ERP migration. Tone: direct and reassuring."
COMPARE THE RESULTS:
"Change management is important for organizations. When implementing new systems, communication helps. Managers should talk to their teams about changes. This helps people understand what's happening..."
Generic, vague, no clear audience or purpose.
"Team, I want to be direct: we're migrating to a new ERP system in Q2. Your teams will ask questions—here's what matters. This isn't about efficiency theater. Our current system can't scale with regional growth..."
Specific, actionable, appropriate tone and length.
Few-Shot Prompt: Product Descriptions
❌ WEAK PROMPT
"Write product descriptions for me."
✓ STRONG PROMPT
"Input: Wireless mouse → Output: Ergonomic wireless mouse with 6 programmable buttons. 18-month battery life. Now write for: Standing desk"
COMPARE THE RESULTS:
"This is a standing desk that allows you to work while standing. It can be adjusted to different heights and is made of quality materials. Great for offices and home use."
Doesn't match the example pattern; verbose and generic.
"Height-adjustable standing desk with electric motor. 48-72" range. Built-in cable management and memory presets."
Matches the concise, feature-focused pattern perfectly.
Chain-of-Thought: Project Risk Analysis
❌ WEAK PROMPT
"Analyze this project's risks for me."
✓ STRONG PROMPT
"Step 1: Identify root causes. Step 2: Map stakeholder impacts. Step 3: Evaluate solution options. Step 4: Recommend mitigation approach."
COMPARE THE RESULTS:
"Some potential risks include timeline delays, budget overruns, and team capacity issues. Consider these carefully."
Surface-level list without structured analysis.
"Step 1 - Root Causes: Key dependency on vendor API (not yet GA). Step 2 - Stakeholder Impact: Affects product launch timeline... Step 3 - Options: Build abstraction layer vs. wait for GA..."
Systematic, follows reasoning steps, actionable insights.
Level 2: Structure the Thinking
Task Decomposition: Strategy Document
❌ WEAK PROMPT
"Create a comprehensive AI strategy document."
✓ STRONG PROMPT
"Stage 1: Analyze current capabilities. Stage 2: Define success metrics. Stage 3: Identify use cases. Stage 4: Draft implementation roadmap."
COMPARE THE RESULTS:
"An AI strategy should include vision, goals, implementation plan, and success metrics. Consider stakeholders, technology, and organizational readiness..."
Jumbled structure, attempts everything at once.
"Stage 1 - Current Capabilities: [detailed analysis building foundation] Stage 2 - Success Metrics: [builds on Stage 1] Stage 3 - Use Cases: [informed by metrics]..."
Each stage builds on previous; coherent narrative flow.
Decision Framework: Vendor Selection
❌ WEAK PROMPT
"Help me decide between these two vendors."
✓ STRONG PROMPT
"Option A: Build in-house. Option B: Buy vendor solution. Criteria: Cost, time-to-market, control, scalability. Method: Weighted scoring (cost 40%, time 30%, control 20%, scalability 10%)"
COMPARE THE RESULTS:
"Both vendors have pros and cons. Vendor A is cheaper but Vendor B has better features. Consider your budget and needs."
No structured evaluation; opinion without framework.
"Weighted Analysis: Option A - Cost: 4/5 (40%=1.6), Time: 2/5 (30%=0.6)... Total: 2.9/5. Option B - Cost: 2/5 (0.8), Time: 5/5 (1.5)... Total: 3.7/5. Recommendation: Option B scores 28% higher..."
Quantified, transparent methodology, clear rationale.
Framework Guide
Level 1 — Structure the Prompt
Structured Prompt
The foundation. Always include: Persona (who), Task (what), Context (why/for whom). Add Constraints and Format for control.
Use for: Any task. This is your starting point.
Few-Shot Prompt
Teach by example. Show 1-3 input/output pairs to establish the pattern you want. Model matches your examples.
Use for: Style matching, format replication, pattern recognition.
Chain-of-Thought
Force step-by-step reasoning. Define 3-5 explicit thinking steps. Prevents shortcuts on complex problems.
Use for: Analysis, planning, multi-step problems, decision support.
Level 2 — Structure the Thinking
Task Decomposition
Break big tasks into sequential stages. Each stage produces input for the next. Reduces cognitive load.
Use for: Long reports, complex strategies, multi-phase projects.
Decision Framework
Structured comparison of 2+ options. Define options, criteria, and evaluation method. Forces systematic thinking.
Use for: Go/no-go decisions, vendor selection, strategic choices.
Common Mistakes
• Vague personas: "Expert" → "Senior behavioral economist who explains concepts to executives"
• Weak verbs: "Help me with..." → "Write / Analyze / Compare / Generate"
• Missing constraints: Always specify length, tone, and audience
• No examples: For style-sensitive work, show 1-2 examples
• Skipping context: Model can't read your mind — state what matters
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