The 2-minute AI prompt that can save you an hour of editing your words
- Liza Engel
- Oct 27
- 3 min read
“I spend more time fixing AI drafts than writing them myself.”
I often hear this from thoughtful professionals who want to utilize AI but ultimately feel frustrated. They expect speed and get stuck in revision loops instead.
Last week, I visited two gymnasiums with my son. One visit was terrific; the other, not so much.
At the one school, the speech began with us all being scolded for arriving too early, even though we’d taken the only train that would get us there on time. The visit focused on delivering information to us, but it missed the moment to connect.
The other school did something different. They welcomed everyone warmly, shared a brief introduction while we stood together, and then invited us to explore and interact with students and teachers. It was thoughtful, human, and it worked.
The difference? One spoke “at” the audience; the other connected with them with a clear intent beyond bullet points.
And that’s precisely what happens in writing - especially when AI is involved.
AI magnifies whatever we bring to it: fuzzy thinking becomes fuzzy text. Clarity is still the real productivity tool.
Clarity before creation
Time isn’t lost in writing; it’s lost in thinking.
Most of us start typing before we’ve really thought through what we’re trying to say or who we’re saying it to. That’s not a writing issue; it’s a clarity issue.
AI magnifies what we bring to it: fuzzy thinking becomes fuzzy text.
But I have good news for you! You can change this in just two minutes.
Step one: Ask AI to help you think, not write
Before you open a blank page or a chat window, try this prompt:
“You are my communication coach. Help me clarify what I actually want to say before I start writing.”
Then answer honestly. What’s the real point you want to make? Why does it matter now?
Step two: Let AI interview you
Once you’ve got the seed of an idea, use this second prompt:
“Ask me three questions to make sure my message resonates with my audience: Who’s the audience? What’s the message? Why now?”
It’s incredible what surfaces when you slow down and think out loud. You might realize your “message” is actually three messages, or that your intended audience would care about something completely different.
By the time you’ve answered those three questions, your next draft almost writes itself.
The 2-minute clarity check
You can think of this as a simple practice:
1. Clarify what you want to say.
2. Connect with your audience.
3. Create only after the first two are done.
If you use AI, make it your thinking partner, not your shortcut.
The leadership stretch
Next time you reach for AI to “speed things up,” pause for two minutes first. Clarity is leadership. The better you think, the better your words and your tools will then work for you.
Try the prompt this week and notice what shifts: Is your message sharper? Your edits fewer? Is your confidence higher?
Sometimes the fastest way forward starts with a thoughtful pause.
And if you’d like to take this further, next week I’ll share the next step: choosing the best way to deliver your message. Because once you know what to say, the next question is how to make it land.
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