March 19, 2025 | Read Online

MGMT Minute: How To Transform Your Writing With AI In One Minute

From rookie prompts to personal and professional writing in 5 quick steps.

Read time: 1 minute

It's easy to think everyone is using AI and that you're behind.

I was in a room with 150 leaders yesterday and less than 25% use AI for their work.

I think that's a huge mistake.
But I also know how intimidating it is to get started.

So, let's start simple and use AI to help us write better.

Here's a common management scene:

You need to write a tough email to your team about yet another reorganization. You're frustrated because this is the second change this year. Your first draft sounds passive-aggressive and flat. Not great. And you need to get this right.

Let's see how AI can help - and how each prompt tweak makes it dramatically better.

Level 0: Just Start
"Write an email about a reorganization"
Result: Generic corporate speak. Sounds like every bad change memo ever.

Note: Don't give up here. Prompting is an art. And you just started painting.

Level 1: Add Context
"Write an email announcing our second reorganization this quarter. The team is tired of changes."
Result: Better, but still feels rigid and mechanical.

Level 2: Add Emotion + Outcome
"Write an email about another reorganization. I want the team to feel heard but also committed. I'm frustrated but need to lead well."
Result: Now we're getting human.

Level 3: Add Style + Constraints
"Write a 3-paragraph email about a second reorganization. Use a direct, honest tone. Acknowledge fatigue but build confidence. No corporate jargon."
Result: Sharper and more authentic.

Level 4: The Full Framework
"Help me write an email about another reorganization using this framework:

Tone: Direct, empathetic leader
Context: Second change this quarter, team is change-fatigued
Must include: Acknowledgment of difficulty + clear rationale + specific next steps
Must avoid: Corporate speak, false optimism, vagueness
Length: 3 short paragraphs
Special notes: I want to convey 'I hear you AND we need to move forward'"

Result: A workably human draft

Here's how that prompt worked for me:

Level 5: Keep and Revise
"That's a good start. Keep the second paragraph exactly as is. For the opening, make it more direct - start with 'I know this is our second reorganization this quarter.' And in the final paragraph, add a specific note about our all-hands meeting next Tuesday at 10am."
Result: Now you're directing like an editor, keeping what works and targeting specific changes

Think of it like working with a writer: "Love this part, tweak that part, add this detail."

No need to start over. Build on what's working.

Three Keys to Remember:

Judge Speed, Not Perfection
Don't judge AI negatively because you didn't get the perfect output. Just it by how quickly you can get to an 80/20 draft. If nothing else, it types and revises much faster than you.
Feed It Your Best Lines
Got specific phrases or points you want to hit? Include them. The AI will build around them, keeping your voice while filling the gaps. Think of it as a writing partner, not a replacement.
Push It Past Average
These models a trained to be middle-of-the-road. Want something different? Tell it exactly who you are. "We're a scrappy 10-person startup" or "We're a high-performance trading desk" will get very different results.

We're pulling more AI into our leadership training. Hit reply and tell us how we can help you become an AI-accelerated leader.

And we've got two free workshops already on the calendar:

We hope you'll join us live. Or register and get the recordings.

Lead on,
Dave & Mar

P.S. - MGMT Fundamentals is filling up fast. In an hour a day over two weeks, we'll teach you the foundational skills to not just survive but thrive in your new leadership role. Ideal for managers in the first 3 years leading a team.

Live Classes Start April 8th