Chapter 37

The Transformation Exercise: Prompt Psychology in Action

1 min read

Let's apply everything you've learned to transform a real prompt:

ORIGINAL PROMPT: "Help me write better"

PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS: - No role activation - No context provided - Implicit assumptions - No success criteria - Too vague

TRANSFORMATION PROCESS:

Step 1 - Add Role: "As a writing coach, help me write better"

Step 2 - Add Context: "As a writing coach, help me write better. I'm a business analyst who writes technical reports that everyone says are too dry, and hard to read."

Step 3 - Make Explicit: "As a writing coach, help me write better. I'm a business analyst who writes technical reports that everyone says are too dry, and hard to read. I need to make complex data analysis engaging for C-suite executives who have 5 minutes to read my reports."

Step 4 - Add Specifics: "As a writing coach who specializes in making technical content engaging, help me transform my writing. I'm a business analyst whose reports on market data are technically accurate but called 'dry, and hard to read' by executives. I need techniques to make complex data analysis compelling for C-suite readers who spend maximum 5 minutes per report."

Step 5 - Add Structure: "As a writing coach who specializes in making technical content engaging, help me transform my writing. I'm a business analyst whose reports on market data are technically accurate but called 'dry, and hard to read' by executives.

Please provide: 1. Three specific techniques to open reports compellingly 2. A before/after example using financial data 3. A template for structuring data insights as a story 4. Quick fixes I can apply to my report due tomorrow"

FINAL RESULT: A prompt that will generate actionable, specific advice instead of generic writing tips.