45 ChatGPT Prompts for Business: Boost Productivity

Business professionals waste hours every week on tasks that AI can handle in minutes — drafting meeting agendas, writing performance reviews, summarizing reports, and planning strategy sessions. The difference between using ChatGPT casually and using it productively comes down to knowing exactly what to ask.

This guide provides 45 battle-tested prompts covering the tasks business professionals actually do: strategic planning, running meetings, managing people, closing deals, handling customer issues, streamlining operations, and generating reports. Each prompt is ready to copy, customize, and use immediately.

Getting Maximum Value from Business Prompts

Provide company context. ChatGPT doesn’t know your business. Spending 30 seconds adding your industry, company size, target market, and specific challenge saves 10 minutes of back-and-forth.

Assign a relevant role. “Act as a CFO reviewing quarterly results” produces different output than “Act as a startup founder looking at monthly metrics.” Match the role to the perspective you need.

Specify the output format. Need a bullet list for a Slack message? An executive summary for your boss? A spreadsheet structure for your analyst? State it clearly.

Protect sensitive data. Don’t paste confidential financial details, customer PII, or proprietary strategies into ChatGPT. Anonymize data and change specific numbers when needed. Use your company’s approved AI tools for sensitive work.

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Strategy & Planning Prompts (1-9)

1. SWOT Analysis Generator

Conduct a SWOT analysis for a [industry] company with these characteristics:
Annual revenue: approximately [range]
Team size: [number]
Main product/service: [describe]
Target market: [describe]
Primary competitors: [list 2-3]

For each quadrant (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats):
List 5 specific points with brief explanations
Prioritize by business impact (high/medium/low)
Suggest one actionable next step

End with a strategic summary connecting the most critical items across all four quadrants.

2. Quarterly Business Review Framework

Create a quarterly business review (QBR) presentation framework for a [industry] company.

Include these sections:
Executive summary (key wins, misses, and themes)
Financial performance overview (metrics to include and how to frame them)
Customer metrics (retention, satisfaction, growth)
Product/service updates
Team and organizational health
Market and competitive landscape changes
Next quarter priorities and goals
Resource requests and dependencies


For each section, provide:
Suggested slide structure
3 key questions the leadership team should discuss
Red flag indicators to watch for

3. OKR (Objectives and Key Results) Builder

Help me create OKRs for [department/team] for the upcoming [quarter/year].

Context:
Company goal: [describe the company's primary objective]
Department function: [what this team does]
Current challenges: [list 2-3 challenges]
Last quarter performance: [briefly describe outcomes]

Create 3 Objectives, each with 3-4 Key Results that are:
Measurable (include specific numbers or percentages)
Ambitious but achievable
Time-bound to the quarter
Within the team's direct influence

Also suggest 2-3 initiatives (projects or activities) that would drive each Key Result.

4. Business Model Canvas

Create a Business Model Canvas for [business idea or existing company].

Fill in all 9 sections with specific details:
Customer Segments: Who are the target customers?
Value Propositions: What problems are we solving?
Channels: How do we reach customers?
Customer Relationships: How do we interact with customers?
Revenue Streams: How does the business make money?
Key Resources: What assets are essential?
Key Activities: What must we do well?
Key Partnerships: Who do we need to work with?
Cost Structure: What are the major costs?


Industry: [specify]. Business stage: [startup/growth/mature].
After completing the canvas, identify the 2-3 biggest risks or assumptions we should test first.

5. Competitive Analysis Framework

Create a competitive analysis comparing our [product/service] with [3 competitors].

Analyze across these dimensions:
Pricing and packaging
Core features and capabilities
Target audience and positioning
Strengths and weaknesses
Market perception (how they're generally regarded)
Go-to-market strategy

Format as a comparison table where possible.
Then provide:
Our strongest competitive advantages
Areas where we're at a disadvantage
Opportunities competitors are missing
Recommended strategic moves based on this analysis

Our product: [describe]. Industry: [specify].

6. Market Entry Strategy

Develop a market entry strategy for launching [product/service] in [new market/geography/segment].

Include:
Market sizing: Framework for estimating TAM, SAM, SOM
Customer discovery: Key questions to validate demand
Competitive landscape: What we'll face and how to differentiate
Pricing strategy: Options with pros and cons
Go-to-market channels: Ranked by cost-effectiveness for early traction
Timeline: 90-day plan with milestones
Risk assessment: Top 5 risks and mitigation strategies
Success metrics: How we'll know it's working


Current company context: [describe your existing business].
Budget for this initiative: [range].

7. Strategic Priority Matrix

I have these potential initiatives for next quarter:
[Initiative 1]
[Initiative 2]
[Initiative 3]
[Initiative 4]
[Initiative 5]

Help me prioritize using this framework:
Impact on revenue (high/medium/low)
Impact on customer experience (high/medium/low)
Effort required (high/medium/low)
Strategic alignment with our goal of [describe goal]
Dependencies and risks

Create a prioritization matrix and recommend a ranked order.
For the top 3, suggest a rough timeline and resource allocation.
For items that didn't make the cut, explain whether to defer, delegate, or drop.

8. Annual Planning Workshop Agenda

Design a 2-day annual planning workshop agenda for a leadership team of [number] people
at a [industry] company with [revenue range] in revenue.

Day 1 should focus on: reviewing the past year and identifying strategic themes
Day 2 should focus on: setting goals and building the roadmap

For each session, provide:
Topic and objective
Duration
Facilitator notes (key questions to ask, exercises to run)
Expected output
Supplies or pre-work needed

Include breaks, working lunches, and an evening team-building activity.
The team's biggest challenge going into next year is [describe].

9. Scenario Planning Exercise

Help us run a scenario planning exercise for our [industry] business.

Create 3 distinct scenarios for the next 12 months:

Scenario 1: Optimistic (things go better than expected)
Scenario 2: Baseline (steady state with normal challenges)
Scenario 3: Pessimistic (significant headwinds or disruption)

For each scenario:
Describe what the environment looks like
Key indicators that signal we're in this scenario
How it would impact our revenue, team, and operations
3 strategic moves we should consider
Trigger points: when should we shift strategies?

Company context: [describe]. Revenue: [range]. Key risks: [list].

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Meeting & Communication Prompts (10-18)

10. Meeting Agenda Builder

Create a structured agenda for a [meeting type — e.g., weekly team sync, project kickoff, board meeting]
with [number] participants. Duration: [minutes].

Include:
Welcome and context setting (time allocation)
Discussion topics with specific questions to address
Time allocated for each topic
Decision items clearly marked
Action item capture section
Parking lot for off-topic items

Meeting objective: [what we need to accomplish].
Key decision to make: [if applicable].
Pre-read materials participants should review: [list if any].

11. Meeting Notes to Action Items

Here are my rough meeting notes:

[Paste your notes]

Convert these into a structured meeting summary:

Key decisions made (list each clearly)
Action items (format: task, owner, deadline)
Discussion points that need follow-up
Parking lot items for future meetings
Next meeting date and agenda items


Keep it concise — this will be shared with [audience].
Tone: [professional/casual/executive-level].

12. Presentation Outline for Executives

Create a presentation outline for a [duration]-minute presentation to [audience — C-suite, board, investors, team].

Topic: [describe what you're presenting]
Goal: [what you want them to decide, approve, or understand]

Structure it as:
Opening: Hook and context (why this matters now)
Current state: Where we are (with suggested data points)
The proposal/finding: What you're recommending or reporting
Evidence: Supporting data and reasoning
Implications: What this means for the business
Ask: What you need from the audience
Q&A prep: Anticipate 5 tough questions and draft answers


Executive attention span is short. Front-load the most important information.

13. Difficult Conversation Script

Help me prepare for a difficult conversation with [role — direct report, peer, manager, client]
about [topic — performance issue, missed deadline, budget cut, role change].

Provide:
Opening statement that's direct but respectful
Key points I need to make (3 max)
Specific language to use (and language to avoid)
Anticipated pushback and how to respond
How to close the conversation constructively
Follow-up actions to suggest


My relationship with this person: [describe].
The outcome I want: [describe].
Tone: [empathetic, firm, collaborative, etc.].

14. Weekly Status Update Template

Create a weekly status update template for a [role] reporting to [audience].

Include sections for:
Highlights (top 3 wins this week)
Progress against goals (metric-driven where possible)
Blockers and risks
Key decisions made or needed
Priorities for next week
Team/resource notes


Keep total length under [word count]. Format for [email/Slack/project management tool].
Make it scannable — busy executives should get the picture in 30 seconds.

15. Email Templates for Common Scenarios

Write professional email templates for these common business situations:

Following up after a meeting (to external stakeholder)
Requesting a deadline extension (to manager or client)
Introducing two contacts who should know each other
Declining a meeting/request politely
Escalating an issue to leadership


For each template:
Subject line
Body (under 150 words)
Appropriate sign-off
Notes on when to use and when not to

Company context: [industry]. My role: [specify].
Tone: [professional but human, not corporate-speak].

16. All-Hands Meeting Talk

Write talking points for a [duration]-minute all-hands meeting segment about [topic].

Context: [describe what's happening — company update, organizational change, new initiative]
Audience: [entire company / specific department] of [size]
Mood of the audience likely: [excited, anxious, neutral, skeptical]

Include:
Opening: Set the context and tone
Key message: The one thing everyone should remember
Details: 3-4 supporting points
What this means for them personally
Q&A preparation: 5 questions employees will ask with honest, transparent answers
Closing: End on an energizing or reassuring note


Be honest and direct. Employees can spot corporate fluff instantly.

17. Cross-Functional Project Brief

Write a project brief for [project name] that will be shared across [departments involved].

Include:
Project purpose: Why are we doing this? (one paragraph)
Scope: What's included and what's explicitly out of scope
Success metrics: How we'll measure success
Timeline: Key milestones and deadlines
Team: Who's involved and their roles (use role placeholders)
Dependencies: What needs to happen first
Communication plan: How we'll stay aligned
Decision rights: Who approves what (use RACI or similar)
Risks and mitigation: Top 3 risks


Keep it to 2 pages. Format for easy scanning.

18. Client Proposal Draft

Draft a business proposal for [prospect type] who needs [describe their need].

Structure:
Understanding: Show we understand their challenge (specific, not generic)
Approach: How we would solve this
Deliverables: What they get, with specifics
Timeline: Phases and milestones
Team: Who they'd work with (role placeholders)
Investment: Pricing framework (use [X] placeholders for actual numbers)
Why us: 3 differentiators with brief evidence
Next steps: Clear path forward


Our company: [describe]. Our relevant experience: [describe].
The prospect's industry: [specify]. Their approximate budget: [range].

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HR & People Management Prompts (19-27)

19. Job Description Writer

Write a job description for a [job title] position at a [industry] company.

Include:
Engaging opening paragraph (sell the opportunity, not just the company)
Role summary (what this person will actually do day-to-day)
6-8 key responsibilities (specific and outcome-focused, not vague)
Required qualifications (separate must-haves from nice-to-haves)
What we offer (beyond standard benefits — culture, growth, impact)
Salary range: [specify]

Avoid: gendered language, unnecessary jargon, "rockstar/ninja" cliches, unreasonable
requirement lists (don't ask for 10 years of experience for a mid-level role).
Team size: [number]. Reports to: [title]. Remote/hybrid/onsite: [specify].

20. Interview Question Set

Create a structured interview question set for a [job title] position.
The interview will be [duration] with [number of interviewers].

Include:
3 behavioral questions (STAR format prompts) testing for: [key competencies]
2 situational questions (hypothetical scenarios relevant to the role)
2 technical/skills-based questions
1 culture-fit question that doesn't just test for similarity
1 question that reveals how they handle [specific challenge of this role]

For each question, provide:
The question itself
What a strong answer looks like
Red flags in responses
Good follow-up questions

Avoid illegal or biased questions.

21. Performance Review Template

Create a performance review template for a [job function] team member.

Sections:
Summary assessment (3-4 sentences)
Key achievements this period (framework for listing accomplishments with impact)
Areas of strength (with specific behavioral examples)
Development areas (constructive, with actionable improvement suggestions)
Goals for next period (SMART format)
Career development discussion notes
Overall rating guidance (define what each level means)


Include:
Sample language for different performance levels (exceeds, meets, needs improvement)
Guidance on avoiding common review mistakes (recency bias, halo effect, vague feedback)

Review period: [quarterly/annual]. Company values: [list if relevant].

22. One-on-One Meeting Guide

Create a one-on-one meeting framework for a manager meeting with their direct report.

Include:
Pre-meeting: What both parties should prepare
Check-in questions (5 options beyond "How are you?")
Progress and priorities discussion guide
Feedback exchange framework (giving and receiving)
Career development questions (3 options)
Blocker identification and resolution
Action items and accountability

Also provide:
Monthly deep-dive topics to rotate through
Warning signs that a team member is disengaged (and what to ask)
How to handle common challenges (person always says "everything's fine," person is always frustrated)

23. Team Building Activity Planner

Suggest 5 team building activities for a [remote/hybrid/in-person] team of [size].

For each activity:
Name and description
Time required
What it builds (trust, communication, creativity, etc.)
Step-by-step facilitation guide
Materials needed
How to adapt for introverts and extroverts

Constraints:
Budget: [range per person]
Team is [describe — new, established, recently reorganized]
Mix of roles: [describe]
Activities should NOT include [any exclusions — alcohol, physical activity, etc.]

24. Onboarding Plan Creator

Design a 90-day onboarding plan for a new [job title] joining [department].

Structure by phase:
Week 1 (Orientation):
People to meet and in what order
Systems and tools to set up
Key documents to read
First-week goals

Weeks 2-4 (Foundation):
Training milestones
First projects or tasks
Check-in schedule
Cultural norms to understand

Months 2-3 (Ramp-up):
Increasing responsibilities
Key milestones to hit
30-60-90 day check-in agenda items
When they should be fully productive and what that looks like

Include a buddy/mentor pairing suggestion and common onboarding pitfalls to avoid.

25. Difficult Feedback Script

Help me write constructive feedback for a team member about [specific issue].

Situation: [describe what happened]
Impact: [describe the business or team impact]
My goal: [what behavior change I want to see]
Our relationship: [describe — new hire, long-time team member, high performer who slipped, etc.]

Write the feedback using the SBI framework (Situation-Behavior-Impact):
Opening: Set a supportive tone
Specific observation: What I saw (facts, not judgments)
Impact: How it affected the team, project, or customer
Expectation: What I'd like to see going forward
Support: How I'll help them succeed
Close: Invite their perspective


Include language to avoid and common mistakes managers make when delivering this type of feedback.

26. Employee Survey Questions

Create an employee engagement survey with [15-25] questions for a [company size] company.

Cover these areas:
Job satisfaction and meaning
Manager effectiveness
Team collaboration
Career growth and development
Company communication and transparency
Work-life balance
Tools and resources
Recognition and appreciation


For each question:
Use a 5-point Likert scale where appropriate
Include 2-3 open-ended questions
Avoid leading questions
Make questions specific enough to be actionable

Also include: suggested cadence, anonymity best practices, and how to communicate results.

27. Salary Negotiation Preparation

Help me prepare for a salary negotiation for a [role] position.

Context:
My current/offered salary: [amount]
My target salary: [amount]
Market rate for this role in [location]: [if known]
My key achievements/qualifications: [list 3-5]
Leverage I have: [e.g., competing offers, specialized skills, strong performance record]
Constraints: [e.g., budget freeze, company stage, standard bands]

Provide:
Opening statement that anchors high but stays professional
3 key talking points connecting my value to the company's priorities
Responses to common pushback ("That's above our budget," "Let's revisit in 6 months")
Non-salary items to negotiate if salary is fixed (bonus, equity, PTO, remote work, title)
Walk-away criteria: How to know when to accept, counter, or decline

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Sales & Customer Service Prompts (28-36)

28. Sales Email Sequence

Write a 4-email outreach sequence for [sales role] reaching out to [prospect type].

Product/service: [describe]
Prospect pain points: [list 2-3]
Average deal size: [range]

Email 1 (Day 1): Personalized intro — connect to a trigger event or relevant insight
Email 2 (Day 4): Value-add — share a relevant resource or insight (no hard sell)
Email 3 (Day 8): Social proof — brief case study or result
Email 4 (Day 14): Breakup email — final touch, make it easy to say no

Each email should be under 125 words with a low-friction CTA.
Subject lines should avoid spam triggers and maximize open rates.

29. Discovery Call Script

Create a discovery call framework for a [sales role] selling [product/service]
to [prospect type].

Include:
Opening: Build rapport (30 seconds, specific to prospect's industry)
Agenda setting: Frame the call purpose
Discovery questions (in logical order):
   - Current state questions (how they do things now)
   - Pain questions (what's not working)
   - Impact questions (what this costs them)
   - Future state questions (what ideal looks like)
Qualification checklist: BANT or MEDDPICC criteria to assess
Next steps: How to close for the next meeting
Objection responses: Handle "just send me info," "we're happy with our current solution," "call me back next quarter"

30. Sales Proposal Template

Create a sales proposal template for [product/service] pitched to [decision-maker role]
at [company type].

Sections:
Executive summary (their problem, our solution, expected outcome — one page)
Current challenges (show we understand their situation)
Proposed solution (what we'll deliver, phased if applicable)
Expected results (with relevant benchmarks or case study references)
Investment (pricing with clear breakdown)
Implementation timeline
Why choose us (3 differentiators with proof points)
Terms and next steps


Format for a [PDF document / presentation deck].
Tone: confident, consultative, focused on their ROI.

31. Customer Complaint Response

Write response templates for these common customer complaint scenarios:

Product/service didn't meet expectations
Billing error or overcharge
Long wait time for support
Feature request that we can't fulfill right now
Competitor comparison ("Why should I stay when X offers Y?")


For each response:
Acknowledge the issue with empathy (don't be defensive)
Take ownership where appropriate
Explain the resolution or next steps
Offer something to rebuild trust
Close warmly

Channel: [email/live chat/social media]. Brand voice: [describe].

32. Customer Success Playbook

Create a customer success playbook for managing accounts using [product/service].

Include frameworks for:
Onboarding checklist (first 30 days after purchase)
Health score indicators: What signals a happy vs. at-risk customer
Quarterly business review (QBR) agenda template
Expansion/upsell conversation framework
Renewal conversation script (60 days before renewal)
Churn prevention: Early warning signs and intervention playbook
Escalation process: When and how to involve leadership


Customer type: [describe]. Average contract value: [range].
Industry: [specify].

33. Objection Handling Guide

Create an objection handling guide for our [sales team/customer service team]
selling [product/service].

Cover the top 10 objections:
"It's too expensive"
"We're using [competitor] already"
"We need to think about it"
"I need to check with my team/boss"
"We don't have budget right now"
"Can you prove ROI?"
"We tried something similar before and it didn't work"
"We're too busy to implement something new"
"What if it doesn't work?"
"We can build this in-house"


For each objection, provide:
Why prospects say this (underlying concern)
Response framework (acknowledge, question, reframe)
Specific language to use
Follow-up question to keep the conversation moving

34. Customer Feedback Survey

Design a post-purchase customer feedback survey for [product/service].

Include:
NPS question (Net Promoter Score)
5 satisfaction questions covering: product quality, value for money, support experience,
  ease of use, and likelihood to recommend
2 open-ended questions that generate actionable insights
1 question about feature priorities or improvement areas

Also provide:
Best practices for survey delivery (timing, channel, length)
How to segment responses for analysis
Template for sharing results with the team
Framework for closing the feedback loop with customers

35. Upsell and Cross-Sell Scripts

Create upsell and cross-sell conversation frameworks for our [customer-facing team].

Current product: [describe base product/service]
Upsell options: [describe premium tiers or add-ons]
Cross-sell options: [describe complementary products]

For each scenario, provide:
Trigger: When to bring it up (usage milestones, expressed needs, contract events)
Transition: How to move naturally from support/check-in to the recommendation
Value framing: Connect the recommendation to their specific situation
Pricing presentation: How to present cost as investment
Handle hesitation: Responses for common pushback
Close: Specific next steps


Tone: helpful advisor, not pushy salesperson.

36. Win/Loss Analysis Template

Create a win/loss analysis template for our sales team to complete after each [won/lost] deal.

Include fields for:
Deal basics (company, size, industry, deal value, sales cycle length)
Decision makers involved and their priorities
Buying process: How they evaluated options
Competitive landscape: Who else they considered and why
Key factors in the decision (price, features, relationships, timing)
What we did well in the process
What we could improve
Quotes or feedback from the prospect
Lessons that apply to future deals


Add a quarterly summary template that aggregates insights across all analyses.
Include 5 questions for win/loss interviews with prospects.

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Operations & Reporting Prompts (37-45)

37. Process Documentation

Help me document a business process for [process name — e.g., employee onboarding, order fulfillment, content publishing].

Include:
Process overview (purpose and scope)
Process owner and stakeholders
Trigger: What initiates this process
Step-by-step workflow (numbered steps with decision points)
Roles and responsibilities at each step
Tools and systems used
Timeline: Expected duration for each step
Quality checkpoints
Exception handling: What to do when things go wrong
Metrics: How we measure process effectiveness


Format for a standard operating procedure (SOP) document.
This process involves [describe departments and number of people].

38. KPI Dashboard Design

Design a KPI dashboard for a [department/role] at a [industry] company.

Include:
8-12 key metrics organized by category (financial, operational, customer, team)
For each metric: definition, calculation method, data source, target, and frequency of review
Suggested visualization type (line chart, bar chart, gauge, scorecard)
Dashboard layout recommendation (what goes above the fold)
Alert thresholds: When should metrics trigger attention?

The dashboard audience is: [who will use it].
The primary decision this dashboard should inform: [describe].
Data tools we use: [list — e.g., Google Sheets, Tableau, Looker].

39. Weekly Report Template

Create a weekly business report template for [role/department] reporting to [audience].

Sections:
Scorecard: Key metrics vs. targets (table format)
Highlights: Top 3-5 wins or notable events
Lowlights: Issues, risks, or misses
Customer/market signal: One noteworthy trend or feedback item
Priorities for coming week
Asks/blockers: What I need from leadership


Design principles:
Total read time: under 3 minutes
Most important information first
Numbers over narratives where possible
Red/yellow/green status indicators

Industry: [specify]. Report frequency: [weekly/biweekly].

40. Budget Planning Template

Create a budget planning framework for [department] for [fiscal year or quarter].

Include:
Revenue projections (if applicable): Categories and assumptions
Expense categories:
   - People costs (headcount, contractors, training)
   - Technology/tools (subscriptions, infrastructure)
   - Marketing/sales (campaigns, events, travel)
   - Operations (office, supplies, miscellaneous)
For each category: line items, estimated amounts, justification
Variance analysis framework (actual vs. budget tracking)
Scenario modeling: -10%, baseline, +10% spending scenarios
Approval workflow: Who reviews and approves


Last year's budget was approximately: [range].
Key investments planned: [list].

41. Vendor Evaluation Matrix

Create a vendor evaluation scorecard for selecting a [type of vendor/tool — e.g., CRM, marketing automation, office space, logistics partner].

Evaluation criteria (weight each by importance):
Functionality and features fit
Pricing and total cost of ownership
Integration with existing tools: [list current tech stack]
Scalability
Support quality and responsiveness
Security and compliance
Implementation timeline
References and reputation


Format as a scoring matrix (1-5 scale) with space for 3-5 vendors.
Include a recommendation framework: When is vendor A vs. vendor B the right choice?
Our must-have requirements: [list]. Nice-to-haves: [list].

42. Risk Register

Create a risk register template for [project/initiative/department].

For each risk, include columns for:
Risk ID and description
Category (financial, operational, technical, regulatory, reputational)
Likelihood (1-5 scale)
Impact (1-5 scale)
Risk score (likelihood x impact)
Risk owner
Mitigation strategy
Contingency plan
Status and last review date


Populate with 10 common risks for a [industry/project type] initiative.
Include a risk heat map visual (describe the layout).
Suggest review cadence and escalation criteria.

43. Change Management Communication Plan

Create a communication plan for [describe the change — reorganization, new tool rollout, policy change, office move].

Include:
Stakeholder map: Who's affected and how (segment by impact level)
Key messages by audience (leadership, managers, individual contributors, external)
Communication timeline: What's communicated, when, and by whom
Channels: Which channels for which messages (email, all-hands, manager cascade, FAQ page)
FAQ document: 15 anticipated questions with clear, honest answers
Feedback mechanism: How people can ask questions and voice concerns
Success metrics: How we'll know the communication worked


The change affects: [number] people across [departments].
Timeline: Change happening on [date].
Biggest concern employees will have: [describe].

44. Post-Mortem / Retrospective Template

Create a post-mortem template for a [project/incident/campaign] that [succeeded/failed/had mixed results].

Sections:
Summary: What happened in 3 sentences
Timeline: Key events in chronological order
What went well: List with specific evidence
What didn't go well: List with specific evidence (no blame — focus on systems)
Root cause analysis: Use the "5 Whys" framework for key issues
Lessons learned: Actionable insights
Action items: Specific changes to make (owner, deadline)
Open questions: What we still don't understand


Facilitation guide:
How to set psychological safety at the start
Rules for productive discussion
Time allocation for each section
How to handle disagreements about what happened

45. Automation Opportunity Audit

Help me identify automation opportunities in my [department/business].

Here are the recurring tasks my team handles:
[List 10-15 tasks with approximate time spent per week on each]

For each task, evaluate:
Automation potential (high/medium/low/not recommended)
Suggested tool or approach (no-code tools, scripts, AI, integrations)
Estimated time savings per week
Implementation effort (hours to set up)
ROI timeline: When we'd recoup the setup investment


Prioritize by: largest time savings with lowest implementation effort.
Our current tools: [list]. Technical skill level of the team: [basic/intermediate/advanced].
Budget for automation tools: [range].

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Good vs. Bad Prompt Examples

Example 1: Meeting Summary

Bad prompt:

Summarize my meeting.

Why it fails: ChatGPT doesn’t know what meeting, who was there, or what you need from the summary.

Good prompt:

Here are my rough notes from a product roadmap meeting with the engineering
and product teams (12 people). Convert these into a structured summary with:
1) Decisions made, 2) Action items with owners and deadlines,
3) Open questions to follow up on, 4) Topics for next meeting.
Format for sharing in Slack. Keep it under 300 words.


[Paste notes here]

Example 2: Strategy Work

Bad prompt:

Help me with business strategy.

Good prompt:

We're a 50-person B2B SaaS company selling project management software to
marketing agencies. Revenue is $4M ARR, growing 30% year-over-year. Our
churn rate is 8% annually. Our main competitor just raised $50M and is
cutting prices. Help me develop a 3-point competitive strategy that leverages
our strengths (deep agency-specific features, white-glove onboarding) while
addressing the pricing pressure. I need this for a board presentation on Friday.

Example 3: Customer Communication

Bad prompt:

Write a response to an angry customer.

Good prompt:

Write a response to a customer who is upset because their software
implementation took 3 weeks longer than the original 6-week timeline.
They've emailed our VP of Customer Success threatening to cancel.
The delay was caused by their team's delayed data migration.
Acknowledge their frustration, take partial responsibility, and propose
a recovery plan that includes 2 months of free premium support. Keep it
under 200 words and maintain a professional, empathetic tone.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to use ChatGPT for business work?

For general tasks like drafting emails, brainstorming strategy, and creating templates — yes. However, avoid sharing confidential data such as customer information, financial details, trade secrets, or proprietary strategies. Many companies now have AI usage policies that specify approved tools and acceptable use cases. Check with your IT or legal team if you’re unsure. Enterprise plans from OpenAI offer data privacy protections that free accounts don’t.

Can ChatGPT replace business consultants?

ChatGPT excels at frameworks, templates, and first-draft thinking — tasks that consultants often charge significant fees for. However, it can’t replace the experience-based judgment, relationship management, and industry-specific insights that good consultants bring. Think of it as a tool that helps you prepare better for consultant engagements or handle smaller strategic questions in-house.

How accurate is ChatGPT for market analysis and financial projections?

ChatGPT can help you structure analysis and identify what to consider, but it should not be your source of truth for specific market data, financial figures, or competitive intelligence. Its training data has a cutoff and it can generate plausible-sounding but incorrect statistics. Always verify numbers with authoritative sources like industry reports, SEC filings, or market research firms.

Will employees resist using AI tools at work?

Some will, especially if they feel threatened or if the rollout is heavy-handed. The most successful AI adoption happens when companies frame these tools as productivity enhancers, not job replacements. Start with volunteers, share early wins, and focus on automating the tasks people dislike most (report formatting, meeting notes, first-draft writing). Resistance typically decreases once people experience the time savings firsthand.

What’s the best way to build a prompt library for my team?

Start by identifying the 10-15 tasks your team repeats most often. Create customized prompts for each with your company’s context built in — brand voice, product details, target audience, and formatting preferences. Store them in a shared document or tool where everyone can access and contribute improvements. Review and update the library monthly based on what’s working and what’s producing mediocre results.