Do you use ChatGPT at work? Try one of these 11 prompts to power your productivity
ChatGPT is only as good as the prompt you give it. Which is why there’s so much advice online promising to teach you how to write better prompts for better results. If you're new to ChatGPT and AI tools generally, prompts are just how you tell it what you want. They can be short and simple, long and detailed, or somewhere in between.
The problem is, a lot of prompt advice for work still feels formal and a bit too corporate. Which absolutely works in some contexts. But not if you just want to follow up casually, write a breezy blog post, or get a second opinion on an email. We’ve already shared tips on how to move beyond the more robotic-sounding ones in our better prompts to use with ChatGPT and how to prompt ChatGPT to inspire your creativity guides.
Prompts for Summarizing and Communicating
Prompt: “Can you summarize this [email/report/article] in under 300 words?” - If you're overwhelmed by long documents or need to quickly share the key points, this prompt is a lifesaver. Just paste in the text and ask for a summary. You can also request bullet points or a particular tone if you need it.
Prompt: “Can you help me write a follow-up email that’s polite but firm?” - If you're stuck drafting a reply, especially one where tone really matters, this can help you find the right words.
Prompt: “I have too much to do and I’m overwhelmed. Can you help me turn this into a prioritized to-do list?” - This prompt is great for getting your thoughts in order. List all of your tasks into the chat and ask ChatGPT to sort them by urgency or energy level.
Prompts for Planning and Problem-Solving
Prompt: “I’m panicking about [insert issue]. Can you walk me through a simple breathing exercise, one step at a time?” - ChatGPT can help talk you through breathing or grounding techniques in moments of stress.
Prompt: “I need help explaining [complex topic] to someone new. Can you simplify it without losing the key points?” - Perfect for onboarding materials or training sessions to make complex topics more understandable.
Prompt: “Can we role-play a salary negotiation? Pretend you’re my manager and I’m asking for a pay rise.” - Use ChatGPT as a rehearsal partner to practice conversations and build confidence.
Prompts for Creativity and Content Creation
Prompt: “Suggest an outline for a blog post about [topic], for [audience], in a [tone] tone.” - Get started on structuring your blog post with specific details to guide the content creation process.
Prompt: “Rewrite this paragraph to make it clearer and easier to read." - Ideal for refining written content for reports, emails, or social media posts.
Prompt: “I need a name for this [project/report/initiative]. Can you give me 10 creative but relevant options?” - Use ChatGPT to brainstorm creative and relevant names for your projects.
Prompt: “I’m working on [task/project]. What questions should I be asking to make sure I’ve covered everything?” - Ask ChatGPT to help surface any blind spots in your approach to tasks or projects.
These prompts are designed to enhance your productivity and problem-solving at work by leveraging the capabilities of ChatGPT. Remember, while ChatGPT can offer valuable assistance, it's important to use its suggestions as guidance and not as a replacement for critical thinking and human input.
