The 6 Elements of a Great Prompt
Why ChatGPT isn’t broken—your prompt might be.
We hear this all the time:
“I tried ChatGPT… but the answer was boring.”
“It didn’t really help.”
Or the classic: “AI isn’t that smart.”
But here’s the truth we share in every workshop:
It’s not that the AI doesn’t work. It’s that your prompt didn’t.
Prompting is a skill. Once you learn it, ChatGPT stops feeling like a glorified search engine—and starts becoming what it can be: a powerful thinking partner, creative tool, and your second brain.
How We Discovered the 6 Elements
In our AI as Your Second Brain workshops, we noticed something consistent.
People would ask ChatGPT for help—but their prompts were often vague, short, or missing key context.
So, we started unpacking what made certain prompts work better than others. After testing hundreds of examples—across business strategy, content creation, productivity, and even personal planning—we noticed a repeatable structure.
Every effective prompt included some mix of six key elements.
We now call it the Prompt Stack.
💡 The 6 Elements of a Great Prompt
Here’s how we break it down at Quorse:
- Task
What do you want ChatGPT to do—generate, brainstorm, summarize, plan, critique? Be specific.
- Context
What’s the background or situation? Add just enough so it “gets” what you’re working on—like briefing a teammate.
- Content
What info should it use? Feed it relevant facts, ideas, examples, or existing material.
- Persona
Who should the AI act as? A marketing expert? A chef? A coach? This shapes tone and expertise.
- Output Format
What kind of answer are you expecting—bullets, table, email draft, framework, social post?
- Tonality & Style
How should it sound—professional, casual, warm, witty?
You don’t need all six in every prompt. But using even three or four can dramatically improve the quality of the output.
✨ Real-Life Prompt Transformations We Use in Training
Here’s how layering these elements turns average prompts into high-performing ones:
🧠 Coaching Scenario: From Vague to Valuable
Basic Prompt:
“How can I be more productive?”
Upgraded Prompt using the Prompt Stack:
- Task: Give personalized productivity advice
- Context: I’m a solo entrepreneur juggling client work and content creation
- Content: I’m most productive in the mornings but easily distracted by notifications
- Persona: Act as a productivity coach
- Output Format: A 3-step plan I can try this week
- Tone: Friendly but direct
💡 Result: Clear, relevant strategies instead of generic motivational fluff.
🧪 Business Strategy: From Broad to Brilliant
Basic Prompt:
“What’s a good marketing strategy for my product?”
Upgraded Prompt:
- Task: Recommend a marketing strategy
- Context: I’m launching a wellness subscription box for remote workers
- Content: Budget is modest
- Persona: You are a growth marketer with DTC experience
- Output Format: Present ideas in a table with messaging, channel, and estimated spend
- Tone: Energetic and creative
💡 Result: A plan that feels like it came from a CMO, not a search engine.
🎨 Creative Writing: From Flat to Flow
Basic Prompt:
“Write me a poem about coffee.”
Upgraded Prompt:
- Task: Write a short, original poem
- Context: It’s for a friend who just opened a café
- Content: They love espresso and rainy mornings
- Persona: Write as a romantic, nostalgic narrator
- Output Format: Four-line stanzas, total of 12 lines
- Tone: Warm, cozy, and a little playful
💡 Result: A heartfelt poem with soul—not just words.
Use the Stack, Unlock the Magic
We believe AI becomes truly valuable when you use it with intention.
So next time you prompt ChatGPT, take a few seconds to layer in the right elements. Be clear. Set the scene. Guide the AI like a collaborator—not a tool.
You’ll be amazed how much better the answers feel—more relevant, more helpful, and more human.
Want to master prompt design and build your Second Brain?
Stay tuned—we’ll be sharing templates, real-world use cases, and ways to integrate AI into your everyday work.
Until then, remember:
Prompt like a pro. Think with your second brain.
