How to work better with an AI?

ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, Muse, Grok… whatever the tool, the quality of the answer depends a lot on how you work with it.

You don’t need to become an expert in prompt engineering.

Here are four simple tips.

1. Give it a role

Tell the AI what role it should play to help you.

“You are a strength and conditioning coach specializing in 15- and 16-year-old athletes.”

That immediately gives it context and helps it adapt its answers.

2. Give it a clear goal

Explain what you want to achieve.

“I want to improve these athletes’ endurance and strength over a 12-week period.”

The clearer the goal, the better the answer can fit.

3. Start by asking for a plan

For a complex task, don’t ask for everything at once.

“Prepare a plan to help me design the workouts.”

Look at the plan, adjust it if needed, then move forward step by step.

4. Ask it to justify its answers

Simply add:

“Explain and justify your recommendations.”

You’ll understand its choices better — and you’ll be able to question them.

And above all: review!

An AI can give a very convincing answer… and still be wrong.

It can invent a fact, misunderstand the request, or make a bad recommendation. People often call that a hallucination.

Whatever tool you use, keep your judgment and verify important information.

The recipe

You can simply write:

“You are a strength and conditioning coach specializing in 15- and 16-year-old athletes. I want to improve their endurance and strength over a 12-week period. Start by proposing a work plan. Explain and justify your recommendations.”

A good way to start working with an AI:

A role + a goal + a plan + explanations.

And always: reread, question, and verify.