What is prompt? In the context of artificial intelligence (AI), a prompt is an instruction, question, or request that a user types into an AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT). The quality of the response you get depends directly on the quality of the prompt you provide.
You can think of it as a bridge between humans and machines — it translates your intent into a form that the algorithm can understand.
Why is a prompt so important?
In AI, there is a well-known principle: “garbage in, garbage out.”
This means:
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if the question is vague,
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lacks context,
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or is structured chaotically,
…the output will also be poor, generic, or even misleading.
On the other hand, a well-crafted prompt — clear, contextual, and structured — will lead to responses that are precise, relevant, and truly useful.
Characteristics of a good prompt
A strong prompt should:
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Be specific – clearly define the task instead of leaving it open.
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Instead of: “Write about Lean.”
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Better: “Write a LinkedIn post about how Lean Management helps reduce waste in the automotive industry. Use a clear, simple style and give three factory examples.”
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Provide context – details such as:
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Target audience (managers, students, clients),
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Purpose (education, marketing, storytelling),
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Tone of voice (professional, inspirational, concise).
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Define the format – specify whether you want a post, article, table, checklist, or script.
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Assign a role – ask the AI to act as an expert, trainer, consultant, or copywriter.
Prompt as a new skill
Writing effective prompts is becoming a critical professional skill.
It’s often called “prompt engineering” – the art of framing instructions so that AI delivers maximum value.
In practice, this means prompts are becoming a new language of work – just as Excel is essential for analysts, or CAD for engineers, prompt writing is key to unlocking AI’s full potential.
Using 5W1H to write better prompts
One proven method is 5W1H, originally from the TWI (Training Within Industry) Job Methods approach.
Before sending a prompt, ask yourself:
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Why – Why do I need this?
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What – What exactly do I want as an outcome?
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Where – In what context will I use the result?
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When – When and for what occasion?
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Who – Who is the audience or role AI should take?
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How – How should the output be structured or delivered?
By answering these questions, you create prompts that leave no ambiguity — and the AI can generate results that are on-point and actionable.
Conclusion
A prompt is an instruction. And the rule is simple: the better the instruction, the better the output.
If you want AI to truly support your work, start by learning how to write prompts with clarity, context, and purpose.
Dr. Bartosz Misiurek is a co-founder of a few start-ups like Leantrix, Lean Community, Leancoin, etwi, Lean Global Consulting, Sallar. He is a CEO at LeanTrix Ltd., Leancoin Ltd, Do Lean IT OU, and a Member of the Board at Astral Hodling OU. Author of the book “Standardized Work with TWI: Eliminating Human Errors in Production and Service Processes.” He works as Sr Manager and TWI Global Coach at Automotive Company.
