The Strategic Prompt Framework

Weak Prompt:
"Write a blog post about remote work productivity."

Result: Generic listicle with predictable tips like "create a dedicated workspace" and "take breaks."

Framework Approach (Constraint + Perspective Shift):
"Write exactly 5 unconventional productivity tips for remote work, but from the perspective of someone who's been working from home for 20 years and thinks most productivity advice is nonsense."

Result: Sharp, contrarian insights like "Stop pretending your kitchen table isn't your office" and "Productivity porn is killing your actual productivity" — content people actually want to read.

Weak Prompt:
"Help me plan our quarterly team meeting."

Result: Standard agenda template with typical corporate meeting structure.

Framework Approach (Structure Mixing + Take Things Apart):
"Break down our quarterly team meeting into essential components, then restructure it as if you're planning a dinner party where everyone actually wants to be there."

Result: Meeting design focused on genuine connection, meaningful conversations, and outcomes people care about — with specific tactics for engagement, timing, and follow-through.

Weak Prompt:
"Describe our project management software."

Result: Feature-heavy copy that sounds like every other PM tool.

Framework Approach (Creative Pressure + Structure Mixing):
"Describe our project management software in exactly 100 words, but write it as a movie trailer for an action film where deadlines are the villain."

Result: Compelling narrative about conquering chaos, defeating deadline villains, and transforming teams into productivity heroes — memorable and shareable content that stands out.

1. Constraint Strategies

When you need focus, add limits

The idea: Too many options kill creativity. Give yourself (or AI) specific boundaries, and you'll get more focused, useful results.

• Numbers matter — "Give me exactly 3 reasons" beats "give me some reasons."
• Format limits — write only in questions, or one-sentence paragraphs.
• Length challenges — tell a complete story in exactly 10 words.
• Time limits — explain blockchain using only 1990s technology.

2. Perspective Shifts

Change your viewpoint, change your results

The idea: We get stuck seeing things one way. Flip the perspective and suddenly new solutions appear.

• Time travel — How would someone in 2075 judge today's decisions?
• Devil's advocate — Argue against your own idea as strongly as possible.
• Switch audiences — Explain TikTok to your grandmother, or AI to a medieval peasant.
• Question assumptions — What does everyone believe that might be wrong?

3. Structure Mixing

Mash up familiar patterns in weird ways

The idea: Take something people already understand and combine it with something unexpected. The collision creates fresh thinking.

• Genre mashups — write your project update as a mystery novel.
• Style theft — describe your product like a food critic reviews restaurants.
• Framework borrowing — use sports play-calling for meeting agendas.
• Format experiments — write your business plan entirely in haiku.

4. Take Things Apart

Break complex stuff into simple pieces

The idea: When something feels overwhelming or unclear, break it down to its basic parts. Then you can understand how it really works.

• Visual breakdown — describe a famous painting so someone could recreate it.
• Step mapping — list every single step in making coffee, bean to cup.
• Component listing — what makes a podcast actually good?
• Reverse engineering — how would you recreate that viral video's success?

5. Creative Pressure

Use impossible constraints to force breakthroughs

The idea: When normal thinking isn't working, add some artificial pressure. Impossible problems force creative solutions.

• Impossible requirements — design a waterproof phone without making it waterproof.
• Speed challenges — 20 ideas in 5 minutes (no time to overthink).
• Contradictions — make something both premium and cheap.
• Cross-medium — turn the feeling of Monday morning into a campaign.

Constraint + Perspective Shift

Perfect for focused creativity

Example: "Write exactly 3 marketing messages for our productivity app, but from the perspective of someone who hates productivity advice."

Why it works: The constraint keeps you focused while the perspective shift prevents boring, predictable results.

Structure Mixing + Take Things Apart

Great for explaining complex topics

Example: "Break down machine learning into its core components, then explain each one as if it were a character in a sitcom."

Why it works: Decomposition makes complexity manageable; structure mixing makes it memorable.

Creative Pressure + Constraint

For breakthrough thinking under pressure

Example: "Generate 10 solutions for remote team communication in exactly 2 minutes, but none can involve video calls or Slack."

Why it works: Time pressure prevents overthinking, constraints eliminate obvious answers.

Perspective Shift + Structure Mixing

When you need completely fresh angles

Example: "Explain our quarterly results as if you're a sports commentator calling a championship game."

Why it works: New viewpoint + unexpected format = truly original approaches.

On your own

• Stuck? Pick a strategy and try it.
• Big problem? Mix two strategies together.
• Know your field? Adapt these to what you actually do.

With your team

• Use strategy names as shorthand ("Let's try a perspective shift on this").
• Give different people different strategies to try.
• Build on each other's approaches.

The goal isn't to use all these strategies all the time. It's to have options when the obvious approach isn't working.