A useful prompt tells the agent what result is needed, which evidence to use, and how a person will review it.

Not sure how a prompt differs from instructions? See the Dictionary.

The Concept

Write for a capable colleague: name the outcome, audience, source, task, format, and limits. Keep instructions separate from pasted or retrieved content. Use Chat for one-off work and Agent Prompts for controlled reusable behavior.

Example

Using only the attached proposal, prepare a decision memo for the procurement
lead. Include: recommendation, five ranked risks, evidence with page numbers,
missing information, and questions for the supplier. Do not approve the proposal.

The request defines the source boundary, audience, structure, and action limit without unnecessary prompt tricks.

Checklist

• The business outcome and audience are clear.
• Approved sources are named.
• The task uses a specific verb such as extract, compare, classify, or draft.
• The output structure and length are defined.
• Unknowns, restrictions, and approval boundaries are explicit.

Next, use the reusable structure in The Five-Part Business Prompt.