Empower

Prompt Library · 20 patterns

Starter prompts that earn their keep.

Copy, adapt, and run in Claude. Each one names the move it makes — so you know why it works and can generalize to your own.

Role

Category

20 / 20

research

Compare options with a recommendation

The move: forces a decision, not a menu.

I need to choose between the following options for : . Compare them on the factors that matter most for my situation. End with a clear recommendation and your main reason.

analysis

Compare two options

The move: demands a recommendation at the end — stops Claude at "here are the pros and cons" and makes it take a position.

Compare  and  for . Show the pros and cons of each in a table. Then give me your recommendation and the main reason for it.

admin & operations

Draft a meeting agenda

The move: the "key decisions" field focuses the meeting on outcomes, not updates.

Draft a meeting agenda for a  meeting. Topic: . Attendees: . Key decisions to make: . Format with time blocks for each section.

writing

Draft an email in my voice

The move: anchors the output in your tone by specifying audience, topic, and explicit tone — Claude doesn't have to guess.

I need to send an email to  about . The tone should be . Here are the key points I want to make: . Write a draft email I can review and send.

research

Explain this simply

The move: word limit forces real simplification, not just shorter jargon.

Explain  as if I have no background in it. Plain language, no jargon, under 200 words.

admin & operations

Extract action items from a transcript

The move: forces owner and deadline attribution — catches "someone should do X" ambiguity.

Read the following meeting transcript or notes. Extract every action item. For each one, list: who is responsible, what the task is, and any deadline mentioned. If no deadline was stated, write "no deadline given."

analysis

Extract the key numbers

The move: separates quantities from narrative — the numbers are what you'll re-use.

Read the following and pull out all the important numbers, dates, or financial figures. Present them as a simple list with a one-line explanation for each.

brainstorming

Generate 10 ideas

The move: volume forces Claude past the obvious three — ideas 7–10 are usually where interesting options live.

Generate 10 ideas for . Be specific and practical. Don't explain each one — just list them.

writing

Improve clarity without changing meaning

The move: gives Claude a narrow editing lane — fix clarity, don't rewrite the argument.

Edit the following for clarity and readability. Do not change the meaning or tone. Fix awkward sentences, passive voice, or unnecessary jargon.

brainstorming

Name something

The move: adjectives anchor the vibe; ranking by preference lets you sanity-check Claude's taste.

I need a name for . The name should feel . Give me 10 options, ranked from your favorite to least favorite.

brainstorming

Play devil's advocate

The move: gives Claude explicit permission to disagree, and asks for strength rank so you see the best counter first.

I'm considering . Play devil's advocate. Give me the 5 strongest arguments against doing this. Be honest, not polite.

research

Research prep questions

The move: primes your attention before reading — you notice more of what matters.

I'm about to read . Before I do, what 5 questions should I be trying to answer as I read it?

writing

Rewrite for executive tone

The move: gives Claude a specific audience and explicit license to cut — removes the reason it tends to hedge.

Rewrite the following so it is concise, direct, and appropriate for a senior executive audience. Cut anything that doesn't need to be there. Keep the core message intact.

writing

Shorten to 100 words

The move: a hard numerical constraint forces prioritization — no more "I shortened it a bit."

Condense the following to 100 words or fewer. Keep the most important information. Do not add anything new.

brainstorming

Structure an agenda

The move: time estimates per section turn a topic list into an actual runnable meeting.

I have a  meeting with  about . Topics: . Draft a structured agenda with time estimates for each section.

analysis

Summarize in 3 bullets

The move: a count forces signal density — "summarize this" leaves Claude room to ramble.

Summarize the following in exactly 3 bullet points. Each bullet should capture one key point. Use plain language.

admin & operations

Summarize this email thread

The move: "what is being asked of me" cuts through the performance and finds the actual request.

I've been added to an email thread. Summarize what has happened so far and what (if anything) is being asked of me.

analysis

What am I missing?

The move: explicitly invites disagreement — counters Claude's default of supporting whatever plan you present.

I'm planning to . What risks, blind spots, or considerations am I likely missing? Be direct and specific.

research

What do I need to know before this?

The move: surfaces blind spots before they become problems — preparation, not recall.

I'm about to . What are the 5–7 most important things I should know or understand beforehand? Be specific.

writing

Write a professional follow-up email

The move: pre-loads the four things every follow-up needs (who/what/next/length), so the output is ready to send.

Write a brief, professional follow-up email after a meeting with . We discussed . The next step is . Keep it to 3–4 sentences.