To be able to design an effective prompt has become an essential skill for all of us.
For coaches, it offers a transformative way to enhance productivity, engage clients, and streamline operations. Understanding how to effectively communicate with AI can significantly amplify your business impact.
The easiest way to design effective prompts is to use frameworks and strategies.
The Power of Structured Prompting
The key to getting exceptional results from AI lies in how you frame your requests. Below are proven frameworks that consistently deliver results, along with examples that coaches can use.
CARE Framework – The Foundation of Quality Outputs
- Content: Clearly state your subject matter
- Action: Specify what you want the AI to do
- Result: Define your expected outcome
- Example: Provide a sample of what you're looking for
Example:
Content: A motivational post about overcoming procrastination.
Action: Write a carousel script for Instagram.
Result: Include three practical tips for overcoming procrastination and a call-to-action to book a discovery call.
Example: “‘Feel stuck? Here’s how to move forward.’ Use a friendly and inspiring tone.”
RISE Method – Perfect for Complex Tasks
- Role: Define who the AI should act as
- Input: Provide necessary information
- Steps: Break down the process
- Expectations: Clearly state your requirements
Coaching Example:
Role: Act as a productivity coach.
Input: My client struggles with time management and wants to establish a daily routine.
Steps: Suggest a step-by-step plan to identify priorities, set time blocks, and review progress weekly.
Expectations: Present the plan in a bulleted list with an explanation for each step.
BAB Approach – Problem-Solving Made Simple
- Before: Explain the current situation
- After: Describe the desired outcome
- Bridge: Let AI suggest the path forward
Coaching Example:
Before: A coach feels overwhelmed managing their content calendar.
After: They want an automated system to create, organize, and schedule posts.
Bridge: “Suggest tools and workflows to automate social media content creation for a coaching business.”
YOUR tone matters! 🎨
Specifying the tone ensures your content aligns with your brand and audience. Here are some tones and how coaches might use them:
- Professional: For client contracts or onboarding documents
- Friendly: For email newsletters or group updates
- Academic: For creating course material or blog posts
- Persuasive: For sales pages or promotional emails
- Narrative: For storytelling posts about client success stories
Pro Tips for Better Results 🔧
1. Be Specific with Formats
- Request specific output structures (e.g., tables, bullet points, carousels).
- Specify word counts or length requirements.
- Example: “Create a 300-word welcome email for a new client, written in a friendly tone.”
2. Use Role-Based Prompts
- Frame requests by assigning specific roles (e.g., "Act as a life coach").
- Provide relevant context and terminology.
- Example: “Act as a mindset coach and create a worksheet for identifying limiting beliefs.”
3. For Research and Analysis
- Request specific citation formats for reference materials.
- Highlight key insights for clarity.
- Example: “Summarize three popular strategies for lead generation for coaching businesses, including their pros and cons.”
4. For Creative Content
- Specify target audience and tone preferences.
- Include any creative elements desired (e.g., metaphors, anecdotes).
- Example: “Write an inspirational story for Instagram about a coach who transformed their client’s mindset using positive affirmations.”
Common Pitfalls to Avoid ❌
1. Vague Instructions
- Instead of: “Write about coaching.” Try:
- “Write a 500-word blog post on how coaches can use AI for content creation, including two examples.”
2. Missing Context
- Instead of: “Create a plan.” Try:
- “Create a three-month content strategy for a life coach targeting mid-career professionals, focusing on LinkedIn.”
3. Unclear Expectations
- Instead of: “Make it better.” Try:
- “Rewrite this email to make it more engaging by using a friendly tone and adding a call-to-action.”