Tired of bland AI answers? Learn a simple 6-part framework with examples to write better prompts and get clear, useful responses every time.
Last week, I shared a few of the AI tools I’ve been experimenting with and how they’ve helped me win back some valuable time in my day. But here’s the thing…getting the most out of these tools isn’t just about knowing they exist. It’s about knowing how to use them. And that starts with shifting how you think about them.
The big aha for me? Context. Context. Context.
AI tools are often described as your assistant, copilot, or even your work buddy. You can certainly toss it a quick question and get a decent answer. But if you want an outcome that’s actually tailored to you—your work, your goals, your style—you’ve got to feed it more information and context upfront. The richer the context you provide, the better the response you’ll get back.
The 6-Part Framework for Better AI Prompts
Think of prompting like writing a really good recipe. The more details you include like the ingredients, cooking style, serving size, the better the dish turns out. Same with AI. Here’s how to give it the details it needs to serve you well:
1. Task – What do you need it to do?
Be specific about the job you want AI to tackle. A vague ask gets you a vague answer.
Weak: “Help me with conflict.”
Strong: “Suggest 3 strategies for addressing conflict between two team members who aren’t speaking to each other.”
The clearer the task is, the faster you’ll get something useful.
2. Context – Why does this matter?
AI doesn’t know your world unless you tell it. Give it the background so it can tailor the answer.
Example: “I manage a team of 10 in a hybrid workplace. Two team members recently had a disagreement in a meeting that has now spilled over into their day-to-day work. Deadlines are slipping because they aren’t communicating.”
Context helps AI cut out generic advice and offer strategies that actually fit your situation.
3. Examples – Show it what ‘good’ looks like.
AI learns fast when you feed it models. Share samples of past work, or point it to a style you admire so it has a better idea of what you are thinking good looks like.
Example: “Here’s how I’ve phrased similar guidance before: ‘Keep the focus on the issue, not the person.’ Match this style in your suggestions.”
A few examples up front save you from multiple rounds of “not quite right.”
4. Persona – Who should AI ‘be’ as it responds?
This is where you can use your imagination and have some fun. Assigning a role gives AI a lens to answer through. Imagine channeling someone you admire to generate your response. This can shift the advice from generic to powerful.
Example: “Respond like Mel Robbins would if she were coaching someone on managing workplace conflict — direct, motivational, and actionable.”
Personas not only inject personality but can bring their expert perspective and tone into the response. The possibilities for this are endless!
5. Format – How should it look?
The way information is presented matters. It’s best if you tell AI exactly how you want your response to be delivered. You can even apply frameworks. I met with someone who said she applied the “Smart Brevity” framework in order to fine tune her messages to the CEO of her company. Developed by Axios and detailed in their book Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less, this framework encourages delivering essential information in a concise, engaging, and memorable way. It’s especially effective for busy audiences who skim or scan content.
Example: “Provide a step-by-step plan using the Smart Brevity framework with bullet points and a short headline for each step.”
A polished format = less editing time for you.
6. Tone – How should it sound?
Your voice is part of your brand. Guide AI to match it.
Example: “Keep the tone calm, supportive, and constructive — avoid blame and keep it solution-focused.”
Tone is what makes readers feel like it’s you talking, not a robot.
Pro tip: Here’s the good news…you don’t need to use all six every time. But layering them together is how you move from bland outputs to responses that feel tailored, sharp, and more personalized for your specific needs.
Why Context + Framework Matters: Work Conflict Example
Here’s an example showing the difference of a generic prompt vs one that leverages the framework above. You can see the difference in how much more helpful and personalized it can get.
❌ Generic Prompt Example
Prompt: “Give me tips for handling conflict at work.”
AI Response:
- Communicate clearly
- Listen actively
- Find common ground
- Stay professional
- Seek help from HR if needed
This isn’t wrong, but kind of bland. It could apply to any situation and doesn’t give you a specific roadmap to help you improve the situation.
✅ 6-Part Framework Prompt Example
Prompt:
“You are Mel Robbins coaching a manager on conflict resolution. Task: Suggest 3 strategies for addressing conflict between two team members who aren’t speaking to each other. Context: I manage a team of 10 in a hybrid workplace. Two team members had a disagreement in a meeting that has now spilled into their daily work, and deadlines are slipping because they aren’t communicating. Examples: I like to frame advice in short, memorable phrases, like ‘Keep the focus on the issue, not the person.’ Format: Provide a step-by-step plan with bullet points and short headlines. Tone: Calm, supportive, and constructive.”
AI Response:
- Call the Meeting, Don’t Avoid It – Get both team members in the same (virtual) room. Frame it as “We need to move forward, and that starts with talking this through.” Avoid letting silence drag the issue out.
- Name the Elephant, Keep It Neutral – Acknowledge the disagreement without pointing fingers. Say, “I know there was tension in our last meeting. Let’s reset so we can hit deadlines together.” This shifts focus from who’s right to what’s next.
- Create a Micro-Agreement – Have them agree on one next step, even if small: “By Friday, we’ll both update the project tracker.” Progress builds trust, and trust defuses conflict.
This version feels more specific, motivational, and ready for a manager to actually use. It sounds like coaching from Mel Robbins: direct, empowering, and action-oriented.
There are a lot of advanced techniques like Persistent Personalization and ways to integrate AI into your daily workflow but the best place to start is to simply experiment. By using this simple framework, you can start to unlock the magic of these tools, and the AI will know exactly what to do to help you.
Check out this short video (1 min 30 sec) for a practical demo of turning a plain question into a structured prompt with role, context, and clarity.
I hope this helps take some of the overwhelm out of learning these buzz worthy new tools. If you have any other helpful tips, let me know. Happy prompting in the meantime!
Thanks for reading and sharing! xx
