Discover how Context Makes Magic Happen

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Ever typed a question into ChatGPT and gotten a weird or underwhelming response?

You’re not alone.

In this One Simple Thing episode, we explore why so many AI queries fall flat — and what leaders can do differently. There’s one small shift that makes all the difference… and no, it’s not about being a tech expert.

This is the final part of our short series on how to use AI to enhance your leadership — without losing your human touch.

🎧 Curious? 

Hit play and find out what makes AI really work for you.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to Leading People with me, gerry Marais,
this week.
It's One Simple Thing, where ineach episode, I share a quick,
actionable tip to help you bringout the best in yourself and
others the best in yourself andothers.
One simple thing is created foryoung leaders, but hey, us

(00:34):
older folks can still learn athing or two.
Ask my dog.
He's learned a few new tricksrecently.
Here's a question for you haveyou ever typed a question into
ChatGPT and the answer you gotback was well, not quite what
you were hoping for, or maybeeven a bit off the wall.
You're not alone, and here'swhy Because all meaning is
context dependent.

(00:54):
If you don't give AI enoughcontext, it will do its best to
fill in the blanks, but it's nota mind reader and, unlike your
most intuitive colleague, itdoesn't know you or what you
meant, unless you tell it.
So today's one simple thing isLearn how to brief an AI like a

(01:21):
pro so you get relevant, usefulresponses every time.
Now let me bring this to lifewith a story from my own kitchen
table.
My 17-year-old daughter hadsaved a bunch of fashion images
to Pinterest for a year-longschool project she's doing.
She wanted help generating acolor palette from them using

(01:43):
ChatGPT.
So she snapped a screenshot anduploaded it to the chat.
Her message Make a colorpalette from this.
Now, that's not a bad start,but ChatGPT had no idea this was
part of a school project, thatshe was building an entire
fashion collection, or that sheneeded ideas that were realistic

(02:05):
, cohesive and in line with herpersonal style.
It first gave her a palette,but not her palette, because it
didn't know the context.
Once we refined it and got morespecific, it produced what she
really wanted.
And this is the mistake a lotof people make when talking to

(02:27):
AI they throw in a prompt andhope for magic.
But context is what makes themagic happen, and it doesn't
have to be complicated.
Here's a simple briefingchecklist you can follow.
You can think of it as the fiveessentials for briefing AI.
Well, so the first is who isthis for?

(02:50):
Is it for a client, your boss,your team or even yourself?
Number two what are you tryingto do?
Are you trying to write amessage, prepare for a meeting?
Are you trying to write amessage, prepare for a meeting,
explain a topic, brainstormideas?
Number three why does it matter?
Are you trying to impress,influence, inform, simplify or

(03:16):
just clarify something?
Number four where will this beused?
Is it for a presentation, anemail, a social post or just a
conversation?
And number five how do you wantit to sound?
Do you want it to soundfriendly, formal, humorous,

(03:38):
direct or just thoughtful?
And once you answer these, evenquickly, you're giving the AI
guardrails and it can do muchbetter work for you.
And remember, you're nothanding off your thinking,
you're just giving your thinkingassistant better instructions.

(03:58):
In fact, the more thoughtfulyou are, the better it gets.
In fact, the more thoughtfulyou are, the better it gets.
And here's the aha moment.
You don't need to be a techwizard, you just need to be
clear.
And that's what good leaders do.
They communicate clearly,whether with people or even

(04:19):
machines.
If this resonates, please shareit with someone who's
struggling with getting usefulresults from AI or who's just
dipping their toe in.
And that's another One SimpleThing.
Thanks for tuning in.
Remember, small steps can leadto big changes.

(04:42):
Test out this One Simple Thingand notice how it transforms
your day.
Let me know how you get on.
Reach out on LinkedIn andconnect with me.
Mention the podcast and ifyou'd like to learn more one

(05:03):
simple things, then subscribe tothis podcast on your favorite
podcast channel and follow ourLinkedIn Leading People page.
In our next episode of OneSimple Thing, we'll explore
another easy way to be a greatleader by bringing out the best

(05:26):
in yourself and those around you.
And in between, you can checkout one of my longer
conversations with leadingpeople about yes, you've guessed
it leading people.
So until then, keep exploringand stay curious.