Back when we were students, we were trained to answer as many questions correctly as possible in the least amount of time. The top performer was the one who delivered the most accurate answers in a flash. Then AI entered the scene and turned everything upside down. Now, it’s no longer about being the best at answering questions. It’s about being the best at asking them. You give AI instructions, it does the work, and the quality of what you get back depends heavily on how you communicate with it. This is the next installment in our Yogi Befriending AI series. Are you ready to take charge of AI and boost your work to a whole new level?
1. Why Begin with Mindset?
To get the most out of AI, the very first thing you need to do is shift your mindset. Why do I always start with mindset instead of jumping straight into detailed how-tos? The answer is straightforward. A solid mindset empowers you to solve any problem, even those you’ve never encountered before. Think back to your school days for a moment. How did you score high on tests? You practiced by working through countless sample exams. You drilled hundreds of problems at home so that when you walked into the test room, nothing could catch you off guard. That method worked wonders in the classroom, but how does it hold up in the real world?
Real life isn’t like a neatly prepared exam. You couldn’t predict something like a global pandemic, nor can you foresee what unexpected challenge might pop up at work tomorrow. The reality we live in is full of uncertainties, and you can’t have pre-written answers for everything that comes your way. What you can do is sharpen your mindset to be flexible and resourceful, ready to tackle whatever life throws at you. When it comes to working with AI, the three core mindsets I’m about to share will help you craft smarter questions, amplifying the impact of your prompts by tenfold.
2. The Mindset of Tailored Prompts
The first mindset you need to master is tailoring your prompts to fit your unique situation. Picture yourself explaining what a bicycle is to three different people. First, a 5-year-old child. Next, a professional athlete. Finally, a street vendor. Would you use the exact same words for all three? Of course not. For the child, you might say a bicycle is a fun toy with wheels you pedal around the yard. For the athlete, you’d highlight its speed and durability. For the vendor, you’d focus on how it cuts travel costs and boosts sales. AI operates in a similar way. When you share details about yourself and your context, AI can adjust its responses to match your specific needs.
Let’s try an example. If you ask AI “How do I grow my yoga class?”, you might get a broad response like making a nice space and promoting it online. Now, change it up a bit. Ask “I teach yoga for pregnant women in a big city, how do I grow my class?” Suddenly, AI might suggest focusing on prenatal-safe exercises or teaming up with maternity clinics to reach your audience. The difference comes from giving AI context about your situation.
How do you put this into practice? When you ask AI something, include specifics about who you are, what you’re working on, and what you’re aiming for. Instead of a vague “How do I plan an event?”, try “I’m hosting an outdoor meditation session for 20 people this weekend, how do I plan it well?” AI could then advise you to check the weather forecast or bring portable mats for comfort. Give it a go today. Add context to your prompts and notice how much more useful the answers become.
3. The Mindset of Letting AI Ask Back
The second mindset to adopt is letting AI turn the tables and ask you questions. Too often, people expect a flawless answer from their very first prompt. But think about it for a second. When you assign a task to a coworker, you need to explain it clearly and provide enough details for them to get it right, don’t you? That takes time and effort. With AI, there’s a much easier approach. You can let AI figure out what it needs by asking you back.
Here’s how to do it. Simply add this line at the end of your prompt: “What else do you need to answer better? Ask 3 questions.” Why 3? It’s enough to get useful details without going overboard, though you can tweak it to 5 if you want more depth. Let’s use our earlier example. “I teach yoga for pregnant women in a big city, how do I grow my class? What else do you need to answer better? Ask 3 questions.” AI might respond with “Are you teaching in-person or online?”, “Are your students mostly in early or late pregnancy?”, “Do you have any existing promotion channels?” Once you answer, AI could suggest something practical like posting short prenatal yoga videos on parenting groups.
Start making this a habit today. Finish every prompt with “What else do you need to answer better? Ask 3 questions.” To help it stick, type that sentence into the comments below this post. Keep typing it until it becomes second nature every time you work with AI.
4. The Mindset of Thorough Critique
The third mindset you should embrace is thoroughly critiquing AI’s responses. A good suggestion from AI is fantastic, but it’s just one perspective. You need to explore it from different angles, like turning a cube to see every side. How do you do that? Ask AI to step into the shoes of a tough critic. Use this question: “Evaluate this answer like a skeptic, list its strengths and weaknesses, and explain why.”
Let’s revisit our yoga example. Suppose AI suggests “Host a free yoga session for pregnant women to attract students.” You like the idea but want to be sure. Ask AI “Evaluate the free session idea like a critic, list 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses.” AI might reply that the strengths are drawing new attendees, building community goodwill, and keeping costs low. On the flip side, weaknesses could include not retaining students long-term, requiring significant prep time, and being tricky to measure for success. It might even suggest an improvement, like pairing the free session with a paid package to make it sustainable. This gives you a well-rounded view to decide.
If AI gives you several suggestions, ask it to compare them. For instance, say “Suggest 3 ways to promote my prenatal yoga class, then pick the best one and explain why.” AI will list options, choose one, and break down its reasoning, making your choice clearer. This mindset isn’t just for AI. It’s a valuable skill for work and everyday life. Practice it regularly until it feels natural.
Conclusion
I firmly believe anyone can learn to excel with AI, and shifting from being a great answerer to a sharp questioner is entirely achievable. These three core mindsets, Tailored Prompts, Letting AI Ask Back, and Thorough Critique, will amplify your AI prompt impact by 10x. Start rethinking your approach today, put these mindsets into action in your daily tasks, and share them with those around you. What do you think of these strategies? Leave your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned for more in the Yogi Befriending AI series!