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Tips and tricks

12 ways to get more out of AI

In the order to try them. Start with one tip this week, then add the next

12 tips · each with a prompt to copy
Do this once

Before you start, write your personal/professional context file

Talk for 15 minutes about who you are, what you do at work, how you like to write and what you care about. Ask the AI to turn it into a short text, and give it that text at the start of a chat, or in the custom instructions field if your tool has one. The two context-file guides give you the questions to answer

Try

Turn what I just said into a one-page profile the AI can read before every task

Open the professional context file guide Open the personal context file guide

  1. 01

    Speak instead of typing

    Press the microphone and talk, the way you would explain it to a colleague. Rambling is fine. It is faster than typing, and you give more context without noticing

  2. 02

    Let it clean up what you said

    Put one line in front of your dictated text, and the AI sorts out the noise and repetitions first

    Try

    Rewrite this prompt for clarity and structure, then answer it:

  3. 03

    Give the full picture

    Most weak answers come from too little context. Say what you are trying to do, what you have already tried, and what worries you. Describe the result you want, not only the task

    Try

    I am a [role] trying to [goal]. I have tried [x]. My concern is [y]

  4. 04

    Hand over the heavy reading

    Long reports, PDFs and spreadsheets can be summarised in minutes, in another language if needed. Ask for the result as a table, a short summary or a draft email

    Try

    Summarise the attached report in English in five points, with the key figures and the page each comes from

  5. 05

    Check before you trust

    AI can be confidently wrong. Ask for sources, spot-check two figures against the original, and send nothing you have not read. It goes out in your name

    Try

    List the figures you used and where each one comes from

  6. 06

    Give it a role and experience

    Tell it who it is and what it is there to advise you on. The more specific, the better the answer

    Try

    You are a controller with 20 years of experience in a Nordic manufacturing company. Help me ...

  7. 07

    Let it ask you questions first

    Before it writes anything, ask it to interview you. You get an answer built on your situation, with real substance

    Try

    Before you start, ask me 15 clarifying questions, one at a time

  8. 08

    Ask for options, then let it rank them

    One answer narrows your thinking. Ask for several and let it score them against what matters to you

    Try

    Give me 10 options and rank them by time saved and risk

  9. 09

    Change the reader

    Have it review your text through someone else's eyes, for example a busy CFO or a sceptical colleague

    Try

    Read this as a busy CFO. What would you not understand, and what would you cut?

  10. 10

    Ask what could go wrong

    Use it to stress-test a plan, a budget comment or a proposal before anyone else sees it

    Try

    What are the five ways this plan could fail, and how do I prevent them?

  11. 11

    Rehearse a hard conversation

    Describe the person and the situation, and let the AI play them, so you can practise before the real conversation

    Try

    Play a team member who is worried about AI taking their job. I will practise my answer

  12. 12

    Put a reminder where you can see it

    Keep a note on your screen that asks “Could AI help with this?”, and practise on everyday tasks before time is short

    Try

    Before I start this task, how could you help me do it faster?

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