An Introduction to Prompting • Chapter 2
Writing Clear Instructions
Every interaction with AI is a journey from vision to reality. The difference between a vague request and a powerful outcome lies in how you shape your instructions. Through precision, structure, and perspective, learn to craft prompts that guide AI toward your exact destination, transforming abstract ideas into focused, meaningful results.
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Part 1
Be specific.
A vague prompt is like asking a friend to “bring something from the store”. They’ll bring something, but it may not be what you had in mind.
In AI, vagueness leads to generic or unfocused results. Clarity, on the other hand, transforms your request into an actionable directive.
Specificity isn’t about limiting creativity; it’s about providing a focused starting point. By narrowing the scope, you allow the AI to explore possibilities that align with your vision.
Example: “Tell me about climate change.”
Refined: “Summarise the major causes of climate change and their impact on ocean ecosystems.”
The refined prompt offers direction. It tells the AI not just what to address but how to frame its response.
💡 Tip: Break It Down
Complex requests often benefit from being broken into smaller, more specific prompts.
Instead of asking, “How can I improve my business?”, start with “What are three strategies for improving customer retention?” and then, as a follow up to the AI’s response, go on to ask “How can I implement these strategies in an online retail business?”.
When you’re specific, you’re not just giving instructions—you’re clarifying your own intent. This process refines your thinking, making your interactions with AI a mirror of your creative clarity.
Part 2
Outline the Steps Involved
Clear instructions are not just about the end goal; they’re about the path to get there. When you outline steps, you’re creating a roadmap—one that the AI can follow and even expand upon. Structure brings clarity, and clarity drives actionable results.
The Power of Structure
Imagine you’re baking a cake. If a recipe simply said, “Make a cake”, you’d be lost. But when broken into steps—preheat the oven, mix dry ingredients, combine wet ingredients—you can follow a clear path to success. The same applies to prompting AI.
Example: “Help me create a marketing plan.”
Refined: “Create a five-step marketing plan for a sustainable fashion brand targeting Gen Z consumers.”
By framing your request as a sequence, you help the AI produce outputs that are both logical and actionable.
Outlining steps isn’t just about making AI outputs clearer—it’s about organising your own thoughts. The clearer the path, the greater the likelihood of achieving your goal.
💡 Tip: Use a verb
Start your prompts with verbs like “list”, “explain”, or “outline”. These words help the AI recognise what it should be doing and helps it know how to organise its response.
Part 3
Adopting a Persona
What if you could ask an AI to think like a designer? Or an entrepreneur? Or even a philosopher? Adopting a persona allows you to frame your prompts in a way that shapes the perspective and tone of the AI’s response.
When you specify a persona, you guide the AI to tailor its tone, style, and depth of knowledge. This makes responses more aligned with your needs.
Example: “Explain blockchain.”
Refined: “Explain blockchain as if you’re a financial advisor speaking to a tech-savvy investor.”
Here, the persona focuses the AI’s response, ensuring it’s both informative and relevant to the audience.
Personas aren’t just functional—they’re imaginative. You can use them to explore new perspectives or solve problems creatively.
Example: “Imagine you’re a historian from 100 years in the future. How would you describe today’s technological advancements?”
By giving the AI a persona, you allow it to think outside the box, often generating responses that are richer and more engaging.
Don’t be afraid to test different personas. A “teacher” persona might explain concepts clearly, while a “scientist” persona may delve into technical details. Adjust as needed to get the most effective results.
Adopting a persona is a reminder that perspective shapes understanding. It’s not just about what you ask but how you frame the request. With AI, as in life, changing perspectives often leads to breakthroughs.
Reflection
Writing clear instructions for AI is an art of precision, structure, and creativity. It’s about thinking deeply about what you want, breaking it into manageable parts, and exploring the possibilities of new perspectives.
These principles don’t just enhance your interactions with AI—they refine how you communicate, think, and lead in all areas of life.
Ask yourself: Are your instructions as clear as your vision? If not, what steps can you take to refine them?
Next • Chapter 3
Context and Reference
The difference between a good response and a great one often lies in what you give AI to work with. Rich context and clear references transform AI from a general knowledge tool into a specialist—one that speaks your language, understands your needs, and delivers the results you’re looking for.