ChatGPT Prompts for Executives in Australia: Ready-to-Use Examples

The difference between an executive who gets useful results from AI and one who finds it frustrating often comes down to how they frame their requests. AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude are capable tools, but they respond to the quality of the instructions they receive. A vague prompt produces a generic response. A well-constructed prompt that provides context, specifies the audience, and defines the desired output produces something genuinely useful.

This guide provides ready-to-use prompts for the tasks that take up the most executive time. Each prompt is designed to be used as a starting point — adjust the specifics to your organisation, industry, and context before using.

How to Get the Best Results

Before using any of these prompts, it helps to give the AI some context about your role and organisation. You can do this at the start of a session with a brief framing statement:

"I am the CEO of a mid-sized Australian professional services firm with around 200 staff. I need help with [task]. Please write in a professional but direct tone suitable for a senior business audience."

This kind of framing helps the AI calibrate its responses to your specific context rather than producing generic output.

Strategy and Planning Prompts

Summarising a strategic situation: "I am preparing for a board strategy session. Here is a summary of our current market position, key challenges, and recent performance: [paste summary]. Please identify the three to five most important strategic questions we should be addressing, and for each question, outline two or three possible approaches we could consider."

Stress-testing a strategic assumption: "Our current strategy assumes that [key assumption]. Please identify the main ways this assumption could prove wrong, what early warning signals we should watch for, and what contingency actions we should have ready if the assumption fails."

Competitive intelligence summary: "Please summarise what is publicly known about [competitor name] — their recent strategic moves, apparent priorities, strengths and weaknesses, and how they are positioning relative to [our market]. Focus on information that would be relevant to a senior executive making competitive strategy decisions."

Scenario planning: "We are planning our strategy for the next three years. Please help me think through three distinct scenarios for our operating environment: an optimistic case, a base case, and a pessimistic case. For each scenario, describe the key assumptions, the main implications for our business, and the strategic priorities that would make sense in that scenario."

Board and Governance Prompts

Drafting a board paper executive summary: "I need to write the executive summary for a board paper recommending [decision or initiative]. The key points are: [list key points]. Please draft a concise executive summary of around 300 words that clearly states the recommendation, the rationale, the key risks, and what the board is being asked to approve."

Preparing for board questions: "I am presenting [topic] to the board next week. Based on the following summary of the proposal: [paste summary], please generate the ten most challenging questions a board member might ask, and for each question, draft a considered response."

Drafting a board update on a sensitive matter: "I need to update the board on [sensitive situation — e.g. a regulatory inquiry, a significant operational failure, a key staff departure]. The key facts are: [list facts]. Please draft a board update that is factually accurate, appropriately transparent, and focused on what the board needs to know and what actions are being taken."

Stakeholder Communication Prompts

All-staff communication: "I need to communicate [organisational change or announcement] to all staff. The key messages are: [list messages]. Please draft an all-staff communication of around 400 words that is clear, honest, and acknowledges the impact on staff while maintaining confidence in the organisation's direction."

Investor or analyst update: "I am preparing a written update for investors following [event — e.g. quarterly results, a strategic announcement, a market development]. The key points I want to convey are: [list points]. Please draft an investor update of around 500 words that is factual, forward-looking, and appropriate for a sophisticated financial audience."

Media statement: "I need to prepare a media statement responding to [issue or event]. The key facts are: [list facts]. Our position is: [describe position]. Please draft a media statement of around 200 words that is clear, factual, and avoids language that could be misinterpreted or create further issues."

Personal Productivity Prompts

Summarising a long document: "Please read the following document and provide: (1) a one-paragraph summary of the key points, (2) the three most important decisions or actions implied by the document, and (3) any significant risks or concerns I should be aware of. [Paste document]."

Preparing for a difficult conversation: "I need to have a difficult conversation with [role — e.g. a direct report, a board member, a key client] about [issue]. Please help me prepare by: (1) identifying the key points I need to make, (2) anticipating how the other person might respond, and (3) suggesting how I might handle the most challenging moments in the conversation."

Drafting a personal communication: "I need to write a personal message to [recipient — e.g. a departing senior leader, a long-standing client, a team that has achieved a significant result]. The tone should be [warm/formal/celebratory]. The key points I want to convey are: [list points]. Please draft a message of around 150 words."

A Note on Review and Refinement

Every AI-generated output should be reviewed and refined before use. The prompts above are designed to produce strong first drafts, but they will rarely be ready to use without adjustment. Read the output critically, check it for accuracy, and make sure it reflects your voice and your organisation's specific context.

The goal is not to have AI write your communications for you — it is to reduce the time you spend on drafting so you can focus more of your attention on the substance of what you are communicating.