If Shakespeare used ChatGPT
All’s Well That Prompts Well!
Picture this: He’s sitting at his desk, not with a quill but with a laptop, drafting his next great story. But instead of scribbling lines on parchment, he’s typing out prompts for an AI to help bring his ideas to life.
He starts by saying - “Awaken, dear muse, and conjure marvels for me!”
And knowing Shakespeare, his prompts would be legendary.
He understood something timeless: words have power. The right phrase can build an entire world—or start a revolution.
And here we are in 2025, learning that same lesson all over again. The difference is, that our words aren’t just reaching people, they are guiding powerful AI systems to help us create, build, and solve problems.
The quality of what we get back depends on the clarity of what we ask for.
In this new world, writing a great prompt is like giving clear directions to a talented actor. If you say, “Just do something dramatic,” you’ll get... well, something.
But if you say, “Act like you’re exhausted from carrying a heavy burden, speak slowly, and leave space between your words,” you’ll get a performance that’s much closer to what you imagined.
That’s the difference a great prompt makes.
Why Prompts Matter More Than Ever
I might sound like a broken record, but I will repeat myself and emphasize the fact - Whether you realize it or not, prompting is now a part of everyday work for those who have embraced the power of AI to boost efficiency and performance.
All you need to know to use a conversational Gen AI tool such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Perplexity, Grok is the art and science of “Prompting”.
And this alone can make a BIG difference, that of night and day!
It does not matter what tool you use, if you do not use good prompts, you are going to blame the tool for not giving you a good enough output that you were expecting.
Vague prompts lead to vague results. Clear, thoughtful prompts lead to clear, thoughtful outcomes.
For example:
Vague Prompt: “Write an email to our webinar attendee.”
Better Prompt: “Write a friendly follow-up email to someone who attended our webinar. Thank them for joining. Mention our upcoming product demo and offer to schedule a call next week. Keep the tone warm and professional.”
The difference is huge.
The second prompt gives the AI clear direction: who the audience is, what to say, and what tone to use. The result? A message that feels personal, helpful, and aligned with what you need.
Prompting Is a Skill Anyone Can Learn
I have covered this in my article “You had me at Prompt”.
You don’t have to be a tech expert to write a great prompt. You just need to be clear about what you want. Think of prompting as a mix of creativity, clarity, and strategy.
Be specific. Tell the AI exactly what you want it to do.
Give context. Share who the audience is or why the task matters.
Set the tone. Do you want the message to be formal, casual, friendly? Say so.
The better your instructions, the better the outcome. It’s a bit like delegating to a colleague. If you’re clear about what you need and why, they’re more likely to deliver something great.
How Prompting Can Transform Work
Here are a few examples:
Policies and Communication: Ask AI to write clear, easy-to-understand policies that reflect your company’s values.
Employee Feedback: Use AI to summarize employee feedback in a way that highlights key insights and trends.
Learning and Development: Create personalized training recommendations based on employees’ skills and goals.
When you take the time to craft better prompts, you get better information, clearer communication, and more helpful outcomes.
Here is a sample collection of prompts I found on Gudprompt that you can use.
Prompting Is Leadership in Action
At its core, prompting is about leadership. It’s about giving clear direction and helping others - whether people or AI - understand the goal.
Great leaders know how to communicate in a way that inspires action. Prompting is no different.
And like any leadership skill, it takes practice. The more you experiment, the better you’ll get.
No Limits to What You Can Create
Prompting Is the Opening Scene of a Grand Play
Prompting Is a Time Machine for Ideas
Prompting Is the Fine Art of Asking Better Questions
Prompting Is the Key to the Library of Everything
Prompting Is Casting Spells in the Language of Possibility
The truth is, there’s no limit to what you can create when you master the art of prompting. Whether you are planning for headcount, creating a job post, crafting an employee handbook, or brainstorming new ideas for the future of work, AI can be an incredible partner.
But it’s your guidance - the prompts you write - that unlocks its full potential.
So here’s the question:
If words have the power to build a world, what world will you build with AI by your side?