AI Prompts Cheat Sheet
10 ready-to-use prompts for everyday work tasks. Copy, paste, customize, get results.
These are the 10 prompts I teach most often in my workshops. Each one solves a real, everyday problem that most professionals face. They work with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or any other AI chat tool.
How to use: Copy the prompt, replace the [brackets] with your own details, and paste it into your AI tool. Customize as needed.
Professional Reply to a Difficult Email
I received this email: [paste email]. I want to reply professionally but firmly. My position is [your position]. Keep the tone calm and constructive. Under 150 words.
Why it works: Turns a 20-minute agonizing draft into a 2-minute polish.
Meeting Agenda Builder
I have a 30-minute meeting with [who] about [topic]. The goal is [goal]. Create a focused agenda with time allocations. Include 2-3 discussion questions I should raise.
Why it works: No more winging it. Walk into every meeting with a clear plan.
First Draft From Rough Notes
Here are my rough notes on [topic]: [paste notes]. Turn these into a clear, well-organized [email/report/proposal]. Audience: [who will read this]. Tone: [professional/casual/friendly]. Length: [target].
Why it works: Eliminates the blank-page problem. You edit instead of write from scratch.
Explain a Complex Topic Simply
Explain [topic] to me like I am a smart professional who has never encountered this before. Use plain English, no jargon. Give me the key things I need to know and what questions I should be asking.
Why it works: Perfect for getting up to speed on a new domain quickly.
Generate Options Fast
I need to [goal]. My constraints are [budget/time/resources]. Give me 7 different approaches, ranging from simple and cheap to ambitious and high-effort. For each, list the main pro and con.
Why it works: Gets you past "I have no idea where to start" in 60 seconds.
Summarize a Long Document
Summarize this document in 3 sections: (1) Key points in 3-5 bullets, (2) Decisions or actions required, (3) Anything I should flag or follow up on. Here is the document: [paste text].
Why it works: Save 30 minutes of reading. Get the essentials in 30 seconds.
FAQ Response Generator
I run a [type of business]. Here are the 5 questions customers ask most: [list them]. Write a friendly, helpful response for each. Keep each under 100 words. Tone: professional but warm, not corporate.
Why it works: Create a response library once, reuse it forever.
Break Down a Big Project
I need to [project description]. I have [timeframe] and [resources]. Break this into weekly milestones with specific deliverables. Flag any risks or dependencies I should watch for.
Why it works: Turns an overwhelming project into a manageable checklist.
Improve Existing Writing
Here is something I wrote: [paste text]. Improve it for clarity and readability without changing my voice or meaning. Then explain what you changed and why.
Why it works: Like having an editor on call 24/7. The "explain why" part teaches you.
Pros and Cons Analysis
I am deciding between [option A] and [option B] for [context]. Give me a structured pros/cons analysis. Then tell me what additional information I should gather before deciding. Do not make the decision for me.
Why it works: AI is great at structured thinking. The "don't decide for me" keeps you in control.
Tips for getting better results
- Always replace the [brackets] with specific details from your situation
- If the first output is not right, tell the AI what to fix instead of starting over
- Add "keep it under [number] words" to control length
- Say "make it more [casual/formal/direct]" to adjust tone
- Start with low-stakes tasks to build confidence
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I post the prompts, workflows and checklists behind these articles in the community first, and answer questions there myself.
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