Make ChatGPT Work for You: A Realistic Guide to Better Prompts
Why ChatGPT Isn’t Always the Problem
Have you ever felt like ChatGPT just isn't giving you the best answers? It could very well be that the current models just aren't good enough, but I think the way we are using ChatGPT is also holding us back.
Reflecting on 2024, the largest change in how I approached tasks was using ChatGPT instead of Google—not to replace research but to save time and improve my work. The widespread adoption and rapid advancement of large language models like ChatGPT has created an environment where people have easy access to these AI chatbots but haven't had the chance to develop the skill of using them effectively.
While these tools are very powerful, they are being underutilized because most people haven't been taught how to use them best.
In this post, I’ll share a few simple tips to help you master this skill and get better results.
Why ChatGPT Is a Skill Worth Developing
"If the only tool you have is a hammer, it's hard to eat spaghetti."
– David Allen
This analogy applies to using large language models like ChatGPT as well. Approaching every task the same way won't give you the best results. Learning how to prompt ChatGPT for different tasks or scenarios saves time and effort while giving you better answers.
At the very least you'll save the time of immediately replying "more simple, less words" to any response it gives you.
I’ve created a custom GPT through ChatGPT with the sole purpose of helping you improve. You can keep reading to see the tips below, or you can just click this link to start learning through the custom GPT right away:
Tips for Using ChatGPT
1. Ask ChatGPT to help you write a better prompt when starting a new chat.
Prompt engineering isn't a skill people are born with, so it makes sense if you don’t know the best techniques for prompting ChatGPT. I find that ChatGPT does a great job of helping you create a prompt that you can then use to get an answer to your initial request.
It can add in the extra details you might not have thought to include, making your final prompt far more effective.
Example: "I need help writing a better prompt for ChatGPT to get more accurate and helpful answers. My goal is [state your goal or task]. Can you help me improve or refine the way I should ask this?"
2. Give ChatGPT as much context as possible.
As the saying goes, "garbage in, garbage out." If you don’t provide enough context, you'll end up with generic responses. For instance, asking ChatGPT to write an email to a client without the context that the project you’re working on has been delayed by 6 weeks will lead to an email that sounds like it was written by an apathetic robot.
Example: "I need to write an email to a client about [specific topic]. Here’s the context: [provide detailed background]. Can you help me write a professional and empathetic email that addresses this situation effectively?"
The more context you provide, the better ChatGPT can tailor its response to your specific situation.
3. Don’t just copy and paste the responses ChatGPT gives you.
It might be tempting to use the results of the prompt without a second thought, especially if you’ve been using ChatGPT for a while. However, the more comfortable you get with using ChatGPT, the more you’ll notice that generative AI chatbots all sound pretty similar.
These similarities can easily bleed into your own work, making it less authentic and a lot more bland. A recent study analyzing 14 million PubMed abstracts found that the frequency of certain words like "delves," "crucial," and "notably" skyrocketed after the release of ChatGPT. This has made academic writing a lot less original.
If everyone is using the same tools the same way, then how different can the outputs really be? Don’t let your work become just another example of low-effort, overly polished AI-generated content.
Take the time to make sure that it’s really your voice that you’re sharing with others.
Learn by Doing: Try My Custom GPT
I’ve created a custom GPT in ChatGPT to help you improve your prompts for everyday use. It’s a great way to practice and learn without having to get very technical.
Unlike the default chat in ChatGPT, this model has the specific goal of teaching you how to write better prompts. Think of it as your personal coach for improving your skills, without any extra fees.
Start with a simple task like asking it to refine a poorly written prompt, and watch how your results improve.
How do you use chatgpt?
I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!