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Summarize exit survey themes without identifying anyone
Practice: Setting limits and rules. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
You're sharing exit survey themes with department heads. Write exactly 3 numbered themes, each with how many of the 8 leavers raised it, under 70 words, plain text. Keep it anonymous: no names, roles, teams, dates or details that could identify someone in a small group, and no direct quotes.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Asking to 'summarize the surveys'. The AI goes person by person, with names and quotes. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 3 numbered themes with counts. Plain text."
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each line instead: "each line under 15 words."
- Identifying people. The AI adds color like 'night-shift staff' or 'our payroll clerk', which points to one person. Try: Add: "No names, roles, shifts or quotes. Themes and counts only."
- Not ranking or counting. The AI lists every issue without saying how common it was. Try: Add: "Top 3 themes, most common first, with 'N of 8'. Skip one-offs."
What a strong prompt includes
- Keeps it anonymous
- Asks for counts
- Sets the number of themes
- Says who reads it
- Sets a word limit
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