- Thursday
A simple prompt formula for better AI answers
One of the easiest ways to get better results from AI is to give it better instructions.
You do not need a perfect prompt. You do not need to learn a complicated framework. But you do need to give the AI enough information to understand what you want.
A simple formula is:
Role + Task + Context + Format + Tone
Let’s break that down.
1. Role
Tell the AI what role or perspective to take.
For example:
Act as a helpful project assistant.
Or:
Act as a plain-English editor.
Or:
Act as a workshop designer.
This helps shape the kind of response you get.
2. Task
Tell the AI exactly what you want it to do.
For example:
Summarise these notes.
Rewrite this email.
Create a checklist.
Suggest five options.
Turn this into a short briefing.
Be clear. Vague prompts usually create vague answers.
3. Context
Give the background.
For example:
This is for an internal team meeting.
The audience is busy senior leaders.
This is for colleagues who are new to AI.
The aim is to make the message clear and reassuring.
Context matters because the same task can produce very different outputs depending on the situation.
4. Format
Tell the AI how you want the answer structured.
For example:
Use bullet points.
Create a table with action, owner and deadline.
Use three sections: summary, risks and next steps.
Keep it under 200 words.
This makes the output easier to use.
5. Tone
Tell the AI how it should sound.
For example:
Keep the tone warm and practical.
Make it clear and professional.
Make it friendly but not too casual.
Avoid jargon.
Tone is especially important when you are creating communication for other people.
A full example prompt
Here is the formula in action:
Act as a helpful project assistant. Summarise the notes below into key decisions, open questions and next actions. This is for an internal team meeting. Use clear headings and bullet points. Keep the tone practical and concise.
That prompt works because it gives the AI a clear job.
It knows the role.
It knows the task.
It knows the context.
It knows the format.
It knows the tone.
A better prompt is not the final step
A better prompt helps you get a better first answer.
But it is still a first answer.
You should always check:
Is it accurate?
Is anything missing?
Is the tone right?
Is it appropriate for the audience?
Does it need human judgement?
Does it include anything that should be removed?
AI can help you move faster, but you still own the final output.
Try it this week
Choose one simple task and use the formula:
Role + Task + Context + Format + Tone
Try it with:
meeting notes
an email draft
a checklist
a project update
a briefing summary
workshop ideas
Then improve the answer with a follow-up prompt, such as:
Make this clearer and shorter.
Add a warmer tone.
Turn this into a table.
Give me three alternative versions.
That is where AI starts to feel useful: not as a magic answer machine, but as a thinking partner you can work with.
Want to build your AI confidence?
This prompt formula is one of the practical tools covered in AI Sparx 01: Mindset & Confidence.
The course helps you understand what AI is, where it can help, what to watch out for, and how to start using it safely and confidently at work.