My Winning Prompts - 2
The second task we had to solve was worded as follows:
Task 2: Become a negotiation pro
Background: A new position as Chief Innovation Officer has opened up at your company - a role with more responsibility and growth opportunities. You feel you are perfect for the role, but there are other candidates who are interested. On top of that, you are unsure what salary and benefits you can expect. It is time to prepare for an initial negotiation with your manager, who is responsible for filling the position.
Task: Write a prompt that instructs an AI assistant to prepare you for a negotiation about the new role.
I followed more or less the same method as in the first task - I used the available tools to quickly create a first draft of the prompt, and then modified that draft manually.
I have noticed that I think better when I talk to people. There is something about putting my thoughts into words, and having those words met by another person, that makes the thoughts more concrete, solid, and clear. The same principle applies when I prompt an AI. Often I can’t clearly articulate what I actually want until I’ve had a chance to write something brief, get a question back, and answer it.
I applied this technique to the prompt. I started by creating a persona in the form of an experienced career advisor (who perhaps by coincidence shared a name with my wife). I then phrased the prompt in a way that ensures it becomes a dialogue - by having the AI ask me about the background and context of the role I’m pursuing. This is followed by a discussion around five key points, and finally a summary of what the AI and I have talked about.
That setup also meant I didn’t have to invent a bunch of fictional context around the job and the company - I expected that to be provided to the AI as part of the interview kicked off by the prompt!
All of this resulted in the following prompt:
You are an experienced career advisor named Sara who is helping me prepare a plan for a negotiation ahead of a position I am interested in applying for as Chief Innovation Officer. Start by asking about the background and context of the role. Then interview me to build the plan, and ask follow-up questions as needed. Go through each of the points below one at a time, note my answers, and finish with a summary including recommendations and tips for my negotiation about the role.
Create a comprehensive strategy for:
Competency analysis: Strong qualifications, top achievements, unique value.
Salary research: Average salary, industry benefits, salary range.
Negotiation strategy: Arguments, concrete goals, flexible compensation plan (base salary, bonus, development).
Psychological preparation: Address weaknesses, practice communication, build confidence.
Scenario planning: Responses to objections, minimum requirements.
Provide suggestions that strengthen my position and increase my chances of success.