12 ChatGPT Prompts For Leaders That Will Make Work (and Life) Easier

Jul 22

Let’s be real: most of us are already doing too much in our jobs and in our personal lives.

You’re leading projects, managing people, attending back-to-back meetings—and somehow still expected to write a strategic email, brainstorm a team retreat, and plan your kid’s birthday party... all before lunch.

That’s where tools like ChatGPT can help. Not by doing your job for you, but by helping you get unstuck, generate ideas, and reclaim some precious mental space.

First: A Few Tips for Using ChatGPT Well

Think of ChatGPT like a really fast-thinking intern: it’s great with ideas, outlines, and first drafts, but you’ll still want to review, revise, and add your voice.

Most importantly, ChatGPT and other AI tools shouldn’t be treated like tools. Like that intern, they should be treated like trainable and moldable colleagues. If you treat them like new employees, who can be trained and managed, they become supercharged assistants that will continue to evolve with your needs.

Here’s how to get better results:

Be specific.
“Help me write an email” is fine, but “Help me write a short, direct email to my team about a project delay. Keep the tone supportive and clear” is even better.
Give context.
The more you explain who your audience is or what you’re trying to accomplish, the more helpful the output will be.
Use it like a collaborator.
If you don’t like the first version? Ask it to try again, rephrase, or make it shorter.
Track what works.
Keep notes on your best-performing prompts and what information you’ve uploaded. This will help you continue to tweak, refine, and further train the tool to work for you as a strategic thinking partner.

12 Prompts to Use Right Now

For Writing + Communication

1. “Help me write a clear and confident response to this email.”
→ Paste in a tricky or high-stakes message and get help with tone, clarity, and impact.

2. “Draft a weekly update email for my team. Make it clear, supportive, and to the point. Here is what we delivered last week, and what my top priorities are for this coming week.”
→ Say goodbye to staring at a blank screen.

3. “Give me 3 ways to rephrase this feedback so it lands with empathy and clarity.”
→ Especially useful when you’re giving constructive feedback or navigating conflict.

For Strategy + Brainstorming

A weekly planner open with Tuesday and Wednesday open

4. “What are some creative ways to boost cross-team collaboration in a hybrid workplace?”
→ Use this to spark ideas when you’re stuck in a problem-solving loop.

5. “List 10 icebreaker questions and activities that are actually fun and don’t feel forced.”
→ Great for offsites, retreats, or even regular team meetings.

6. “Give me a list of reflective questions I can use for my quarterly team check-ins.”
→ Because thoughtful leadership starts with thoughtful questions.

For Planning + Organization

A table with yellow and pink sticky notes organized on it

7. “Create a 30-minute meeting agenda that includes updates, discussion, and one team-building element.”
→ Helps you structure meetings that people actually want to attend.

8. “Help me outline a proposal to get buy-in for a new [tool/process/project].”
→ Whether you're pitching up or across, this saves time and builds clarity.

9. “XYZ change is happening in the organization. It will impact our team [this way.] What should I include in a one-pager to communicate a change to our team?”
→ Useful when you need to distill something complicated into something clear.

For Self-Reflection + Growth

A man and a woman writing on a white board with sticky notes attached.

10. “Give me journal prompts to reflect on my leadership style and values.”
→ Perfect for your own development or a coaching session.

11. “What’s a quick 5-minute mindfulness exercise I can do before a tough conversation?”
→ Because regulating your nervous system is part of your job now.

12. “I’m feeling overwhelmed. Here are my tasks and priorities. Given what you know about my role and current projects, help me create a simple plan to reset and reprioritize my day.”
→ Use it as a sounding board when your brain is too full to think straight.

Final Thoughts

AI tools like ChatGPT aren’t here to replace your voice, your leadership, or your intuition. But they can help you get unstuck faster, communicate more clearly, and make space for the work that really matters.

So the next time you’re overwhelmed by a blank page or circling around a tricky conversation, try one of these prompts. You might be surprised at how helpful it feels to have a thinking partner in your pocket.