Unleash AI: Prompting for Leaders
A hands-on AI prompting guide for CEOs and business leaders that combines structure, examples, and human oversight.
Prompting is now a core leadership skill that drives clarity and decision speed.
The CLEAR framework turns AI from a novelty into a thinking partner.
Always review AI outputs carefully, as Deloitte Australia recently learned.
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are changing how leaders think, decide, and communicate. They can sharpen ideas, surface insights, and speed up analysis. But prompting well is not about asking random questions. It is about briefing clearly, thinking structurally, and using judgment.
Used carelessly, AI can produce confident nonsense. Used well, it becomes an executive amplifier.
Why Prompting Really Matters
AI amplifies human thinking. It does not replace it. Leaders who learn to prompt effectively can transform rough ideas into clear strategies and long reports into actionable insight.
But unchecked automation can damage credibility. In 2025, Deloitte Australia came under pressure after publishing a government report worth 440,000 dollars that had been partly generated by AI. The report contained fabricated citations and references. Deloitte later refunded part of its fee and reissued a corrected version.
There is nothing wrong with using AI. The problem comes when no one checks its work. AI should be your co-pilot, not your autopilot.
The CLEAR Prompting Framework
To get consistent, useful results, use the CLEAR structure.
Context – What is the situation or goal?
Lens – Who is the audience or point of view?
Expectation – What kind of output do you want?
Action – What specific task should the AI perform?
Refine – Add tone, length, or examples.
Example:
“You are my strategy advisor. Context: we are an Australian biotech expanding into Southeast Asia. Lens: speak to potential investors. Expectation: produce a short summary of market entry risks. Action: highlight three challenges and mitigation steps. Refine: use clear business language, around 200 words.”
This structure works in ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, or any other system that responds to natural language.
Professional Services
Professional firms such as consultancies, accountants, and law practices can use AI to research, summarise, and draft communication.
Prompt 1
Context: our company wants to streamline client communication.
Lens: act as a relationship strategist.
Expectation: identify three ways to improve communication efficiency.
Action: rank them by impact and ease.
Refine: focus on mid-tier Australian firms.
Prompt 2
Context: a major proposal is due next week.
Lens: present to a non-technical CFO.
Expectation: generate a one-page summary of our value proposition.
Action: emphasise financial benefits and competitive differentiation.
Refine: keep it under 150 words and persuasive.
Prompt 3
Context: we are evaluating AI tools for document review.
Lens: speak as a legal risk advisor.
Expectation: outline three key risks.
Action: suggest mitigations for each.
Refine: keep it practical and compliance-focused.
Manufacturing
Prompt 1
Context: we have new production metrics.
Lens: operations analyst.
Expectation: identify three efficiency trends.
Action: recommend one automation opportunity.
Refine: include potential risks or constraints.
Prompt 2
Context: raw material costs are rising.
Lens: supply chain strategist.
Expectation: propose three cost-reduction strategies.
Action: evaluate each for feasibility and risk.
Refine: reference current commodity data.
Prompt 3
Context: two minor safety incidents occurred last quarter.
Lens: safety officer.
Expectation: write a short staff briefing.
Action: highlight lessons and prevention steps.
Refine: keep the tone calm and practical.
Retail and eCommerce
Prompt 1
Context: online sales dropped 8 percent this quarter.
Lens: retail analyst.
Expectation: list three possible causes.
Action: suggest one test for each cause.
Refine: keep responses short and measurable.
Prompt 2
Context: preparing a spring campaign for Gen Z customers.
Lens: brand strategist.
Expectation: create three campaign ideas.
Action: include suggested channels and key messages.
Refine: tone should be energetic and brand-aligned.
Prompt 3
Context: refund complaints are increasing.
Lens: customer experience trainer.
Expectation: write short refund-handling scripts for staff.
Action: include empathy and procedural clarity.
Refine: limit each script to 80 words.
Financial Services
Prompt 1
Context: updating our compliance policy.
Lens: compliance officer using ASIC guidance.
Expectation: identify three gaps.
Action: recommend fixes.
Refine: cite relevant guidance dates where possible.
Prompt 2
Context: educating customers about open banking.
Lens: customer communication specialist.
Expectation: create a one-page plain-English explainer.
Action: define benefits, risks, and next steps.
Refine: avoid jargon and keep the tone approachable.
Prompt 3
Context: assessing impact of rising interest rates.
Lens: risk analyst.
Expectation: outline three potential impacts on SME loans.
Action: propose mitigation actions.
Refine: include rough quantitative examples.
Education and Training
Prompt 1
Context: designing a leadership course for regional CEOs.
Lens: instructional designer.
Expectation: outline four modules with key outcomes.
Action: include one interactive activity per module.
Refine: connect each outcome to business performance.
Prompt 2
Context: leading a workshop on AI ethics.
Lens: facilitator.
Expectation: list five discussion questions.
Action: ensure questions create debate and reflection.
Refine: tie each question to real-world examples.
Prompt 3
Context: persuading executives to adopt micro-learning.
Lens: learning advisor.
Expectation: create a one-page business case.
Action: highlight efficiency and engagement benefits.
Refine: keep tone executive and results-focused.
Layering Prompts
Good prompting is iterative. Start broad, narrow your focus, and then refine.
Begin with research: “Summarise the top five logistics trends in Australia for 2025.”
Follow with analysis: “Compare these to our current operations.”
Finish with action: “Draft a 90-day plan to respond.”
Each layer improves clarity and depth. The goal is to think with the AI, not through it.
Keep Humans in the Loop
The greatest risk is not AI itself but blind trust in it. Always review, verify, and refine the results. Treat every AI output as a draft.
Human review ensures accuracy. Critical thinking ensures quality. Ethical oversight ensures trust.
Deloitte Australia’s experience proved that failing to check AI-generated work can have real consequences. Quality control is leadership, not micromanagement.
Measuring the ROI of Prompting
Prompting adds value when it saves time, improves clarity, or accelerates decisions. Track the hours saved in report writing, the clarity gained in communication, or the speed of project iteration.
Think of prompting as a new executive literacy, similar to financial fluency or strategic communication. It is now part of leading effectively in an AI-powered environment.
Five Prompts Every CEO Should Try
Strategic Clarity
Context: preparing for investor meetings.
Lens: investor audience unfamiliar with our company.
Expectation: write a 150-word summary of our competitive advantage.
Action: highlight traction or proof points.
Refine: keep tone confident and factual.
Customer Empathy
Context: understanding customer frustrations in our industry.
Lens: customer experience analyst.
Expectation: identify top pain points.
Action: prioritise by emotional and financial impact.
Refine: make suggestions practical and actionable.
Scenario Planning
Context: exploring market uncertainty for 2026.
Lens: strategy consultant.
Expectation: outline three possible market scenarios.
Action: suggest one company response per scenario.
Refine: under 300 words, suitable for a board brief.
Talent Development
Context: improving AI literacy for managers.
Lens: HR learning designer.
Expectation: outline a six-month program.
Action: include learning goals and assessment ideas.
Refine: focus on business outcomes, not technical skills.
Executive Efficiency
Context: briefing the board on a long report.
Lens: chief of staff.
Expectation: condense to a one-minute spoken summary.
Action: focus on insights and decisions.
Refine: simple, conversational, and clear.
These prompts model what professional-grade prompting looks like: structured, deliberate, and always checked by a human.
Final Thoughts
Prompting is a leadership skill. It helps you move from information overload to clarity and from talk to action.
But no model is perfect. The leader remains accountable for judgment, context, and integrity. As the Deloitte example showed, speed without review is risk, not efficiency.
Use AI boldly. Check its work carefully. Lead with intelligence and care.