Source : Gemini for Google Workspace Prompting guide 101 Prompting is a skill we can learn. You don't need to be a prompt engineer to use generative AI, but you may need to try different approaches if your prompt fails. Our users indicate that effective prompts average around 21 words with relevant context, while typical attempts are usually under nine words. The four main areas to consider when writing an effective prompt are: Persona Task Context Format Here is an example of a prompt using all four areas that could work well in Gmail and Google Docs: You are a program manager in [industry]. Draft an executive summary email to [personal based on [details about relevant program docs]. Limit to bullet points. The provided text emphasizes the importance of well-crafted prompts for effective AI assistance across various professional roles. Several key tips emerge for writing effective prompts: Specificity: Clearly define the task, including the desired format (e.g., bullet points, email, executive summary). The example provided uses four key areas: Persona, Task, Context, and Format. While not every prompt needs all four, using several improves clarity and results. Actionable Verbs: Always include a verb or command to clearly instruct the AI what to do. This is the most crucial element of a prompt. Iterative Refinement: If the initial results are unsatisfactory, refine the prompt. This iterative process of review and adjustment often leads to better outcomes. Audience Consideration: Tailor the prompt to the intended audience. Specify the desired tone (formal, informal, technical, creative, casual) for the output. To further improve prompt effectiveness, consider these additional points: Contextual Information: Provide sufficient background information relevant to the task. The more context you give, the better the AI can understand your needs. Constraints: Specify any limitations, such as word count or length restrictions. What are some examples of how these tips could be applied to different professional scenarios, such as writing a marketing email or generating a report summary? gemini-for-google-workspace-prompting-guide-101 Gemini for Google Workspace: A Prompt Engineering Guide This guide provides foundational skills for writing effective prompts when using Gemini for Google Workspace. It covers best practices and offers examples across various professional roles. Chapter 1: Prompting 101: Crafting Effective Prompts This chapter introduces the core principles of writing effective prompts for Gemini. Summary: This chapter emphasizes the importance of clear and concise prompts, focusing on four key areas: Persona , Task , Context , and Format . It also highlights best practices such as using natural language, being specific, iterating, and leveraging your own documents. 1. The Four Pillars of Effective Prompts: Persona: Define the role or perspective from which Gemini should respond. For example, "You are a marketing manager..." Task: Clearly state the action you want Gemini to perform. Use a verb (e.g., "summarize," "write," "create"). This is the most crucial element. Context: Provide relevant background information to guide Gemini's response. Include details, data, or references. Format: Specify the desired output format. For example, "bullet points," "table," "email." 2. Best Practices for Prompt Writing: Use natural language: Write as you would speak to a person. Be specific and iterate: Provide ample context and refine prompts for better results. Be concise and avoid complexity: State your request clearly and avoid jargon. Make it a conversation: Use follow-up prompts to refine the output. Use your documents: Personalize Gemini's output with information from your Google Drive files. Use @filename to reference specific files. Make Gemini your prompt editor: Use "Make this a power prompt: [your prompt]" in Gemini Advanced for suggestions. Chapter 2: Gemini in Action: Use Cases by Profession This chapter demonstrates Gemini's application across various professions, providing practical examples and prompt iterations. Summary: This chapter showcases how different professionals can leverage Gemini for tasks ranging from agenda creation and email summarization to press release drafting and market research. Each section provides scenarios and example prompts, illustrating the iterative process of prompt refinement. 2.1 Administrative Support: Scenario: Planning an offsite meeting, summarizing emails, creating itineraries, and tracking expenses. Example Prompts: Planning activities, suggesting icebreakers, reformatting agendas, summarizing email threads, generating responses using Drive files, creating budget trackers. 2.2 Communications: Scenario: Crafting press releases, preparing spokespeople for briefings, creating media contact lists, and generating mock interview questions. Example Prompts: Creating press releases using Drive files, generating brief templates, organizing contact information, creating presentations, generating interview questions and answers. 2.3 Customer Service: Scenario: Responding to customer inquiries, resolving issues, creating communication templates, and analyzing customer feedback. Example Prompts: Crafting empathetic email responses, suggesting alternative solutions, summarizing product information, creating communication best practices, analyzing customer feedback trends. 2.4 Executive: Scenario: Drafting emails, summarizing lengthy email threads, creating presentation outlines, and conducting market research. Example Prompts: Drafting formal emails, generating responses using Drive files, creating presentation outlines using voice commands, conducting competitive analysis, generating five-year strategy outlines. 2.5 Frontline Worker Manager: Scenario: Answering customer questions, summarizing policies, creating checklists, and tracking inventory. Example Prompts: Finding relevant documents, summarizing information, creating checklists, calculating differences in columns, drafting emails. 2.6 HR Professional: Scenario: Drafting presentation scripts, analyzing hiring data, creating job descriptions, and drafting communication templates. Example Prompts: Drafting presentation talking points, calculating hiring totals, creating job descriptions, drafting offer letters and rejection emails, creating employee surveys. 2.7 Marketing Professional: Scenario: Developing visual identities, defining brand architecture, identifying influencers, conducting market research, and creating marketing materials. Example Prompts: Generating logo ideas, defining brand architecture, identifying influencers, conducting market research, generating ad copy variations, creating social media posts, creating landing page copy, and creating email nurture cadences. 2.8 Project Manager: Scenario: Generating user acceptance tests, summarizing meeting transcripts, creating project status update templates, and tracking project issues. Example Prompts: Creating UATs, drafting emails, summarizing meeting transcripts, creating project status update templates, creating project issue trackers, creating email templates for issue escalation. 2.9 Sales Professional: Scenario: Conducting customer research, drafting emails, summarizing RFPs, and creating sales materials. Example Prompts: Conducting initial customer research, summarizing articles and interviews, drafting emails, summarizing RFPs, creating onboarding materials, generating elevator pitches, anticipating customer objections. Chapter 3: Advanced Prompting Techniques This chapter provides advanced techniques to enhance prompt effectiveness. Summary: This chapter offers strategies for improving prompt construction, including breaking down complex tasks, providing constraints, assigning roles, soliciting feedback, considering tone, and iterating for refinement. 3.1 Advanced Prompting Strategies: Break it up: Divide complex tasks into smaller, manageable prompts. Give constraints: Specify character limits, number of options, etc. Assign a role: Define a persona for Gemini to adopt. Ask for feedback: Engage in a conversational approach with Gemini Advanced. Consider tone: Specify the desired tone (formal, informal, etc.). Say it another way: Iterate and refine prompts for better results. Final Summary This guide provides a comprehensive overview of prompt engineering for Gemini for Google Workspace. By understanding the four key elements of effective prompts ( Persona , Task , Context , Format ) and employing best practices, users across various professions can leverage Gemini's capabilities to enhance productivity and creativity. The provided examples and advanced techniques equip users to effectively collaborate with Gemini for a wide range of tasks, from simple summarization to complex strategic planning. Remember to iterate and refine your prompts to achieve optimal results.