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Write three clarifying questions for a vague request from your VP

  • For Managers and team leads
  • You practice Giving the right context
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

Write exactly 3 numbered clarifying questions to send back to your VP, in plain text. Each question covers one of the three gaps in this order: what the deliverable is, who the audience is, the deadline. Each is a single question under 16 words, and none repeats information already in the message. Do not answer the request or suggest solutions.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Asking what is known. The AI asks when the meeting is. Try: Say: "None repeats information already in the message."
  • Solving the request. The AI starts drafting the report. Try: Say: "Do not answer the request or suggest solutions."
  • Wrong order or count. The AI asks the deadline first or writes five questions. Try: Say: "Exactly 3 numbered questions in the order: deliverable, audience, deadline."
  • Compound questions. The AI packs three asks into one. Try: Say: "Each is a single question under 16 words."
  • Markdown. The AI bolds the key words. Try: Say: "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 part instead, for example: "each line under 15 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Exactly three numbered
  • Names the three gaps in order
  • Single short question
  • Avoid known facts
  • No solutions

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