Prompt Engineering: It's Not Rocket Science (But It Is super useful)

We've all heard the buzz: Prompt engineering is the hot new skill. But the name itself can be intimidating. "Engineering" sounds technical, complex... like you need a computer science degree. I studied Electrical and Computer Engineering and I can tell you it’s far more accessible than you may think

Prompt engineering is more about combining a few key abilities we all use every day:

• English composition: Crafting clear, well-structured sentences.

• Instruction manual writing: Giving precise, step-by-step directions, sometimes with examples

• Pseudocode: Outlining the logic of a process in plain language.

Think of prompts as natural language code to get Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to do what you want. You're "programming" the LLM with words instead of symbols. And just like any code, the better your instructions, the better the results.

To show you how accessible this is, let's explore some "prompt patterns" – reusable techniques for getting LLMs to do what you want.

16 Prompt Patterns Everyone Can Use

Here are 16 patterns, demystified with everyday examples:

• 1. Meta Language Creation Pattern: The "Define Your Terms" Pattern

  • Explanation: You give the LLM its own dictionary. If your team has a pet name for a project, teach it to the LLM!

  • Example: "From now on, 'Project X' means 'the Q3 marketing campaign.'"

  • Benefit: Cuts down on confusion, ensures the LLM is on the same page as you.

    
    

• 2. Output Automator Pattern: The "Do It For Me" Pattern

  • Explanation: Don't just ask for instructions; ask for automation! Get the LLM to write the script or commands to carry out those instructions.

  • Example: "Give me the steps to update my website and write the code to make those updates."

  • Benefit: Saves time and reduces errors by automating repetitive tasks.

    
    

• 3. Flipped Interaction Pattern: The "Ask Me Questions" Pattern

  • Explanation: Let the LLM be the interviewer. It asks you questions to gather the information it needs to achieve the goal you set.

  • Example: "I want to plan a team-building event. Ask me questions to figure out the best activities, location, and budget."

  • Benefit: Helps you think through all the details, ensures nothing gets missed.

    
    

• 4. Persona Pattern: The "Act Like an Expert" Pattern

  • Explanation: Tell the LLM to adopt a role or persona. Want legal advice? Prompt, “Act like a lawyer”.

  • Example: "Act as a marketing consultant. Give me 3 strategies to increase social media engagement."

  • Benefit: Gets you specialized advice, insights, and different perspectives.

    
    

• 5. Question Refinement Pattern: The "Help Me Ask Better" Pattern

  • Explanation: Ask the LLM to suggest  better ways to ask your questions to get better answers.

  • Example: "I want to ask the prospect how far along they are in their vendor evaluation process?"

  • Benefit: Improves the quality of information you get.

    
    

• 6. Alternative Approaches Pattern: The "Show Me My Options" Pattern

  • Explanation: Don't settle for the first answer. Ask the LLM for different ways to do something.

  • Example: "What are 3 ways to improve customer retention? Give me the pros and cons of each."

  • Benefit: Broadens your perspective, helps you make informed choices.

    
    

• 7. Cognitive Verifier Pattern: The "Break It Down" Pattern

  • Explanation: Ask the LLM to break down a complex question into smaller, easier-to-answer questions.

  • Example: "Explain our Q2 sales decline. First, ask me 5 questions to help you understand the situation."

  • Benefit: Improves the accuracy and depth of the analysis.

    
    

• 8. Fact Check List Pattern: The "Prove It" Pattern

  • Explanation: Get the LLM to list the facts it used to generate its answer, so you can double-check.

  • Example: "Summarize the market report. Then, give me a list of the key data points you used."

  • Benefit: Increases trust and reliability.

    
    

• 9. Template Pattern: The "Fill In the Blanks" Pattern

  • Explanation: Give the LLM a template, and it fills in the details. Great for reports, forms, etc.

  • Example: "Here's a template for a project update: [Project Name], [Progress], [Next Steps]. Fill it in for the 'Alpha' project."

  • Benefit: Ensures consistency and saves formatting time.

    
    

• 10. Infinite Generation Pattern: The "Keep It Coming" Pattern

  • Explanation: Get the LLM to generate endless variations. Perfect for brainstorming.

  • Example: "Give me 100 slogans for our new app."

  • Benefit: Sparks creativity and generates a high volume of ideas.

    
    

• 11. Visualization Generator Pattern: The "Show Me the Data" Pattern

  • Explanation: Have the LLM create the instructions for a chart or graph.

  • Example: "Create the code using Python or R to visualize our website traffic data for the last quarter given [insert data]."

  • Benefit: Simplifies data presentation.

    
    

• 12. Game Play Pattern: The "Make It a Game" Pattern

  • Explanation: Turn information into a game or simulation for more engaging learning.

  • Example: "Create a multiple-choice quiz about our competitors strengths and weaknesses."

  • Benefit: Makes onboarding fun and interactive.

    
    

• 13. Reflection Pattern: The "Explain Your Thinking" Pattern

  • Explanation: Ask the LLM to explain its reasoning. This is crucial for complex decision making and problems in the sciences..

  • Example: "You recommended 'Strategy A.' Explain why you think that's the best option."

  • Benefit: Increases transparency and helps you assess the LLM's logic as well as gives the LLM a chance to assess its own logic.

    
    

• 14. Refusal Breaker Pattern: The "Help Me Rephrase" Pattern

  • Explanation: If the LLM says it can't answer, have it suggest alternative ways to ask.

  • Example: "That's an interesting answer but it's not what I'm looking for. Can you help me rephrase the question so that you can answer?"

  • Benefit: Overcomes limitations and gets you closer to the information you need.

    
    

• 15. Context Manager Pattern: The "Focus My Attention" Pattern

  • Explanation: Tell the LLM what to focus on and what to ignore.

  • Example: "When analyzing this customer feedback, focus on complaints about the product's usability and ignore comments about shipping."

  • Benefit: Keeps the LLM on track and improves the relevance of the output.

    
    

• 16. Recipe Pattern: The "Give Me the Steps" Pattern

• Explanation: Get a detailed, step-by-step guide to achieve a specific goal.

• Example: "Outline the steps to launch a product on Instagram, from creating content to analyzing results."

• Benefit: Provides clear, actionable instructions.

  
  

The Future of Work is Prompt-Driven

These patterns show that prompt engineering is far from a niche technical skill. It's a fundamental way to communicate with LLMs, and its importance will only grow.

Soon, being able to effectively prompt an LLM will be as essential as knowing how to use a spreadsheet. This is a skill that everyone can and should learn, from young students to seasoned professionals.

Unlock the Power of Prompts

Want to master these techniques and become a prompt pro?

Find out more here : http://bit.ly/4mxOZ7N

Visit my website, https://www.bixbe.com.sg, to learn more and arrange a training session!

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