7 ChatGPT Prompts That Will Save You Hours Every Week at Work

Posted on January 22, 2026

Most people use ChatGPT wrong.

They type vague requests like “write an email” and wonder why the results feel generic. Or they spend 20 minutes trying to get AI to understand what they actually need.

Here’s the secret: Specific prompts get specific results.

After years of testing prompts across hundreds of work scenarios, I’ve identified the ones that consistently deliver. These aren’t clever tricks—they’re practical tools you can copy, paste, and use today.

1. The Email Polisher

The Problem: You wrote an email, but something feels off. Too long? Too harsh? Too casual?

The Prompt:

Rewrite this email to be more [professional/concise/friendly]. 
Keep the core message but improve the tone and clarity.

[Paste your draft email here]

Pro Tip: Replace the bracketed word with what you actually need. “Concise” will cut the fluff. “Diplomatic” will soften hard messages. “Confident” will remove hedging language.

2. The Meeting Prep

The Problem: You have a meeting in 30 minutes and you’re not prepared.

The Prompt:

I'm meeting with [person/team] about [topic] in 30 minutes.

Give me:
1. Five smart questions to ask
2. Three potential concerns they might raise
3. Key points I should know going in

Context: [Add any relevant background]

Why It Works: This prompt forces you to think strategically about the conversation before you’re in it. You’ll walk in prepared instead of reactive.

3. The Status Update Generator

The Problem: You need to send a status update but your notes are a mess.

The Prompt:

Turn these messy notes into a professional status update for [my team/my manager/the client]:

[Paste your rough notes here]

Format: Brief intro, key updates in bullet points, any blockers, next steps. 
Keep it under 150 words.
Tone: [professional/casual/upbeat]

Pro Tip: This works for weekly updates, project reports, and Slack messages. Adjust the word count based on your audience’s attention span.

4. The Difficult Conversation Script

The Problem: You need to have an uncomfortable conversation and don’t know how to start.

The Prompt:

Help me prepare for a difficult conversation with [who].

Situation: [Describe what happened or needs to be addressed]

Give me:
1. An opening statement that's direct but not aggressive
2. How to respond if they get defensive
3. How to steer toward a resolution
4. A closing that maintains the relationship

My goal: [What outcome do you want?]

Why It Works: AI helps you rehearse without the awkwardness of asking a colleague to roleplay. You’ll have language ready for multiple scenarios.

5. The “Explain It Simply” Translator

The Problem: You understand something technical but need to explain it to someone who doesn’t.

The Prompt:

Explain [complex topic] like I'm [audience] who knows nothing about [field].

Use analogies. Avoid jargon. Keep it under [X] sentences.

The key thing they need to understand is: [core point]

Example Audiences:

  • “a smart 10-year-old”
  • “a CEO who has 2 minutes”
  • “a client who doesn’t have a technical background”

6. The Procrastination Buster

The Problem: You’ve been staring at a task for hours and can’t start.

The Prompt:

I need to [task] but I'm stuck. 

Break this into tiny, specific steps I can start immediately. 
Make the first step so small I can't say no.

What I'm working with: [Any context or constraints]

Why It Works: The hardest part of any task is starting. This prompt gives you a ridiculously easy first step that creates momentum.

7. The “Make Me Sound Smart” Prompt

The Problem: You need to contribute to a discussion about something you don’t fully understand.

The Prompt:

I'm in a meeting about [topic] and need to sound informed.

Give me:
1. Three key points everyone in this field knows
2. One insightful question I could ask
3. One common misconception I could correct
4. Vocabulary I should use (and what to avoid)

My role: [Your position/perspective]

Caution: Use this to prepare, not to fake expertise. The goal is to participate meaningfully, not to pretend you know more than you do.

The Secret to Great Prompts

Notice what these prompts have in common:

  1. They’re specific — Not “write an email” but “rewrite this email to be more concise”
  2. They include context — Who’s the audience? What’s the goal? What constraints exist?
  3. They request structure — Bullet points, numbered lists, specific formats
  4. They set limits — Word counts, number of items, scope boundaries

The more specific you are, the less back-and-forth you need.

Start Using These Today

Pick one prompt. Try it right now. See what happens.

AI isn’t magic—it’s a tool. And like any tool, it works better when you know how to use it.

These seven prompts have saved me hours every week. They’ll do the same for you.

Want 70+ more prompts like these? Check out “How to Use AI @ Work” — the complete guide to AI productivity with copy-paste prompts for every work situation. Get the book →