Executive take
Quick answer
Type ELI5 before any concept you want simplified. The AI gives you a plain-language version with an analogy. Always follow with: now tell me what that simplification leaves out. The second answer is where the real information lives.
Perspective
Business leader
These five shortcuts compress what used to take a meeting into a prompt. Each one is designed to surface a different kind of business value.
Why this matters for this role
- Leaders who use structured shortcuts get better outputs with less back-and-forth.
- Teams that standardise on shared prompt patterns communicate faster and more consistently.
What this role should do
- Try one shortcut per meeting cycle for a week.
- Pick the two that match your most common decision types and teach them to your EA or chief of staff.
Watchouts
- Shortcuts are starting points, not final answers.
- Always follow a compressed output with a judgment call, not just a sign-off.
ELI5 - Explain Like I am Five
Type ELI5 before any concept you want simplified. The AI gives you a plain-language version with an analogy. Always follow with: now tell me what that simplification leaves out. The second answer is where the real information lives.
TL;DR - Too Long, Did Not Read
Do not just ask for a summary. Ask for a decision-ready one: TL;DR this for a department head. Give me five bullets: what changed, what it means for us, the decision required, the evidence gaps, and the next action. Now you have something you can act on.
Steelman - Give the best version of the argument
Before you reject an idea or a vendor pitch, type: Steelman this proposal. Give me the strongest possible case for it, even if you have doubts. This forces the AI to surface the best version of the argument, which is more useful for decision-making than confirmation of your existing view.
BLUF - Bottom Line Up Front
Military communications put the conclusion first, context second. Type BLUF before any prompt where you want the answer before the explanation. Especially useful for status reports, vendor summaries, and policy reviews going to senior stakeholders.
Devil's Advocate - Find the holes
After you have a recommendation, add: now play Devil's Advocate. What are the three strongest objections to this position? This is not pessimism. It is the fastest way to stress-test a decision before you commit to it in a room.
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