How to Ask AI for What You Really Want (Without Learning Jargon)

A practical guide for getting better results from AI tools without the technical mumbo-jumbo

If you’ve ever asked AI for help and thought, “Well, that’s… not what I meant,” you’re in good company. Maybe you asked for an email draft and got something stiff and robotic. Or you wanted a quick summary and got three walls of text instead of the bullet points you actually needed.

You’re not alone. Plenty of office workers are testing out AI tools but getting mixed results. The good news? You don’t need to learn techy terms or “prompt engineering” tricks to see a big difference. All you need to do is treat AI like a very literal, very eager coworker.

Think of AI as Your Most Literal Colleague

Picture this: you’ve got a new teammate who’s super smart and always ready to help—but also takes every single word you say literally. If you ask, “Can you help with this presentation?” they’ll stop and ask, “Do you mean edit it, build slides, or write the whole thing from scratch?”

That’s how AI works. It’s not being difficult—it just needs direction. The clearer and more specific you are, the more useful the results will be.

Start with the End in Mind

Before you type anything, pause and ask: “What exactly do I want to walk away with?”

We’ve all tossed vague requests at AI—like, “Help me write a proposal”—and felt disappointed by the output. But watch what happens when you spell things out:

Instead of:

“Help me write a proposal”

Try:

“Write a one-page proposal to convince my boss to let our team work from home two days a week. Make it professional but not too formal, and include three main benefits with supporting details.”

Now AI knows the length, the purpose, the tone, and the structure. And you’re far more likely to get something that actually fits your needs.

Use Examples Like You Would with Anyone

If you were explaining something to a colleague, you’d probably show them an example. Do the same with AI.

You can say things like:

• “Something like this, but for our situation…”

• “In the style of [specific example]”

• “Similar to how [company/person] would approach this”

For instance: “Write a response to an upset customer, similar to how Zappos would handle it—friendly and going above and beyond to make things right.”

Be Specific About Tone and Style

Tone makes all the difference. You wouldn’t text your best friend the same way you’d email your boss, right? AI needs those cues too.

Try giving it a nudge like:

• “Write this like I’m explaining it to my grandmother”

• “Make it professional but not intimidating”

• “Use the tone of a friendly expert, not a textbook”

• “Keep it casual, like we’re chatting over coffee”

Break Down Complex Requests

Big, vague requests can overwhelm AI—just like they can overwhelm people. Break them into steps.

Instead of:

“Plan our office holiday party”

Try:

“Help me plan our office holiday party for 25 people. First, suggest three theme options with brief descriptions. Then, for whichever theme I choose, create a simple timeline of tasks leading up to the party.”

This way, you’re in control and the process feels more manageable.

Ask for What You Don’t Want

Sometimes it’s easier to say what you don’t want. Think of it like ordering food: “No onions, please.” AI listens to that too.

Helpful guardrails include things like:

• “Don’t use technical jargon”

• “Avoid being overly formal”

• “Skip the lengthy introduction”

• “Don’t make it sound like a sales pitch”

Test and Refine

Here’s the real secret: your first draft probably won’t be perfect. And that’s okay.

Think of your first request as a starting point. Then refine:

• “This is good, but can you make it shorter and more direct?”

• “Perfect, now make the tone more conversational.”

The best part? Unlike human coworkers, AI doesn’t get tired of revisions. You can keep shaping the output until it fits exactly what you need.

Real Examples That Work

Here are some quick before-and-afters from real office tasks:

Before: “Write a meeting agenda”
After: “Create a 30-minute team meeting agenda for next Tuesday. Include time slots for three project updates, a discussion on the new office policy, and 10 minutes for questions. Keep it simple and easy to follow.”

Before: “Summarize this report”
After: “Read this quarterly sales report and give me five key takeaways I can share with my manager in bullet points. Focus on the most important numbers and any concerning trends.”

Before: “Help with presentation”
After: “I’m presenting our department’s achievements to senior leadership next week. Help me outline a 10-minute presentation that highlights our three biggest wins this quarter and shows how they support company goals. Make it confident but not boastful.”

Don’t Overthink It

The biggest mistake people make is trying to learn complicated “prompting hacks.” In reality, simple and clear communication works best.

You already know how to give good instructions to people. Use those same skills with AI. Be specific, give examples, set guardrails, and refine until you’re happy with the result.

Your Turn: Try this today. Pick one everyday task—like an email, a report summary, or a meeting outline—and give AI a request using one of these tips. See how much closer the result is to what you really wanted.

📘 Want More Help?

If you’d like more hands-on support, grab my ebook:
👉 AI Basics for Everyday Work: What You Need to Know (And How to Get Started)

And don’t miss the free companion resource:
👉 100+ Everyday AI Prompts Cheat Sheet

Both are designed for busy office workers who want to save time, reduce stress, and make AI feel simple (not overwhelming).

(Note: Written with a little AI help—and plenty of human judgment.)