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Customers, markets & competition

Understand customers deeply, track competitors, and choose where to play in the market.
Customer insight prompt
    I'm reviewing feedback from [customers/segment] about [product/service]. 
    Here's what they're saying: [paste feedback or summary].
    
    Identify the top 3 themes, what's driving them, and what action we should take first.
Best for: Turning messy customer feedback into clear priorities.
Competitive positioning prompt
    Our main competitors in [market] are [competitor A, B, C]. 
    We differentiate on [key differentiator]. 
    
    What positioning angles are we missing? Where are we vulnerable? 
    What should we emphasize more in our messaging?
Best for: Sharpening your competitive strategy and messaging.
Market opportunity prompt
    We're considering entering [new market/segment]. Our strengths are [list strengths]. 
    Our constraints are [budget/timeline/team size].
    
    What are the 3 biggest risks and 3 biggest opportunities? 
    What would we need to believe for this to be the right move?
Best for: Stress-testing new market opportunities before committing resources.

Leadership communication

How leaders align people, tell the story, and get buy-in.
Vision statement prompt
    I want to articulate a clear vision for [team/department/company] for the next [timeframe]. 
    Our current state is [describe current state]. 
    Where we're headed is [describe desired future state].
    
    Help me craft a compelling vision statement that's memorable, 
    motivating, and gives people a clear picture of success.
Best for: Creating a North Star that rallies your team.
Change announcement prompt
    We're implementing [change] because [reason]. 
    This will affect [who] by [how]. Some people will resist because [concern].
    
    Draft an announcement that acknowledges concerns, explains the why, 
    and gets people excited about what's possible. Keep it under 300 words.
Best for: Communicating difficult changes with empathy and clarity.
All-hands presentation prompt
    I'm presenting to [audience] about [topic] at our next all-hands. 
    Key messages: [list 3-5 key points]. 
    
    Create an outline with a strong opening, clear structure, 
    and a memorable closing. Include where to use stories or data for impact.
Best for: Structuring high-stakes presentations that land with impact.Tool tip: Use Copilot in PowerPoint to generate slides from your outline.

Data & decisions

Using data, AI, and judgment to make better, faster calls.
Data storytelling prompt
    I have data showing [key findings from report/dashboard]. 
    My audience is [stakeholders] who care about [their priorities].
    
    Turn this data into a clear story with a headline, 3 supporting points, 
    and a recommended action. Make it compelling, not just informative.
Best for: Translating data into decisions and action.Tool tip: Use Copilot in Excel to analyze data first, then craft the story.
Assumption testing prompt
    I'm planning to [decision/initiative] based on these assumptions: [list assumptions].
    
    Which assumptions are most risky? What evidence would prove them wrong? 
    What should I test before moving forward?
Best for: Identifying blind spots before making big bets.
Trade-off analysis prompt
    I need to choose between [option A] and [option B]. 
    Option A is better for [benefits] but worse for [drawbacks]. 
    Option B is better for [benefits] but worse for [drawbacks].
    
    Help me think through the second-order effects and what matters most given [context/priorities].
Best for: Making tough calls when there’s no obvious right answer.

Operations & automation

Running the machine better: efficiency, workflows, automation.
Process improvement prompt
    Our [process/workflow] currently works like this: [describe current process].
    Pain points: [list friction points]. 
    
    Identify 3 ways to streamline this process. Prioritize quick wins that don't require new tools.
Best for: Finding efficiency gains without major investments.
Meeting audit prompt
    My team has these recurring meetings: [list meetings with frequency and attendees].
    
    Which meetings could be eliminated, shortened, or combined? 
    What's the potential time savings? What might we lose by cutting them?
Best for: Reclaiming time from meeting overload.
Automation finder prompt
    My team spends significant time on [task/process]. 
    It involves [describe steps]. It happens [frequency].
    
    What parts of this could be automated with our current tools [list tools: Copilot/ChatGPT/Gemini/etc.]? 
    What's the ROI if we save [X hours per week]?
Best for: Identifying where AI and automation can free up your team.Tool tip: Copilot excels at automating Office workflows; Gemini for Google Workspace tasks.

Vision & direction

Who we’re becoming, the North Star, and big strategic themes.
Strategic themes prompt
    Our company is at [current stage]. Our market is [market dynamics]. 
    Our strengths are [list strengths]. Our biggest challenges are [list challenges].
    
    Suggest 3 strategic themes that could guide our next [quarter/year]. 
    For each theme, explain the rationale and what success would look like.
Best for: Setting clear strategic direction for planning cycles.
Scenario planning prompt
    Looking ahead [timeframe], what are 3 plausible scenarios for [industry/market/company]? 
    For each scenario, what would it mean for our strategy? 
    What moves should we make now that work across all scenarios?
Best for: Preparing for uncertainty and building resilient strategies.
Legacy definition prompt
    If I'm successful as [role] over the next [timeframe], what will be different? 
    What will people say about the impact I had? What will I be most proud of?
    
    Help me articulate the legacy I want to build and work backward to priorities.
Best for: Clarifying what matters most and aligning daily work to long-term impact.

Career & leadership

How each leader levels up their own impact.
Leadership skill prompt
    I want to improve at [leadership skill: delegation/strategic thinking/communication/etc.]. 
    My current challenge is [describe specific situation].
    
    Give me 3 practical exercises I can do this week to build this skill. 
    Include how to measure progress.
Best for: Targeted skill development with immediate application.
Career move prompt
    I'm considering [career opportunity/move]. It would give me [benefits] but I'd lose [trade-offs]. 
    My long-term goal is [career aspiration].
    
    Help me think through whether this move accelerates or distracts from where I want to go. 
    What questions should I ask before deciding?
Best for: Making career decisions with clarity and confidence.
Board of advisors prompt
    I'm facing [leadership challenge/decision]. 
    If I had a board of advisors including [type of expert 1], [type of expert 2], and [type of expert 3], 
    what would each person tell me?
    
    Give me their perspectives and where they'd disagree.
Best for: Getting diverse perspectives when you need to think differently.

Family & fun

Using AI to make life outside work easier and more joyful.
Weekend planner prompt
    I have [timeframe] free this weekend. I'm in [location]. 
    I enjoy [interests/hobbies]. Budget is [budget range].
    
    Suggest 3 options for how to spend the time, ranging from relaxing to adventurous. 
    Include logistics and what to book in advance.
Best for: Maximizing downtime without the planning overhead.
Meal planner prompt
    I need to plan meals for [number of people] for [timeframe]. 
    Dietary preferences: [list preferences/restrictions]. 
    I have [time available] to cook each night.
    
    Create a meal plan with recipes and a consolidated shopping list. 
    Prioritize simple, healthy options.
Best for: Taking the mental load out of meal planning.Tool tip: Gemini integrates well with Google Keep for shopping lists.
Gift ideas prompt
    I need a gift for [person] who is [age/relationship]. 
    They're interested in [hobbies/interests]. Budget is [budget range].
    
    Suggest 5 thoughtful gift ideas with where to buy them and why they'd appreciate each one.
Best for: Finding meaningful gifts without the stress.

Start with one prompt from each category this week. Adapt them to your context, save the ones that work, and build your personal library over time.

Next steps

Share with your team

Forward this guide to other leaders in your organization. The more leaders adopt AI, the faster your culture shifts.

Join the community

Connect with other leaders using AI at work. Share what’s working, ask questions, and learn from peers.

Explore deeper training

Ready to go further? Check out the full participant guide for advanced techniques and tool-specific deep dives.

Measure your impact

Track time saved, decisions improved, and team feedback. Share wins to build momentum across your organization.