To give an AI agent an instruction that works, tell it four things: Goal (what you want to achieve), Context (what it needs to know about your business), Limits (what it should NOT do), and Format (how you want the result). You don't need to "program" anything: you ask it the way you'd ask a good new employee, with clarity. That four-part formula gets you 90% of the result.
The formula: Goal + Context + Limits + Format
- Goal: what you want to achieve, in one sentence. ("I want to win back customers who didn't buy.")
- Context: what the agent needs to know about your business. ("We sell jeans; the average ticket is $120.")
- Limits: what it should NOT do. ("Don't offer discounts greater than 10% without asking me.")
- Format: how you want the result. ("Send me a draft before sending anything.")
Example: from vague to clear
Vague: "Help me with sales."— The agent doesn't know where to start
Clear: "Write a short message to the customers who bought 30 days ago inviting them to come back. Warm tone, no discounts. Show me the messages before sending them."— Goal + context + limits + format
The 3 most common mistakes
- Asking for something too big all at once. Break it into steps.
- Not saying what NOT to do. Limits prevent surprises.
- Not asking to review before executing. For anything sensitive, always ask for a draft.