Set out below is a set of Bernard Marr prompts, originally published in Forbes on 05/07/2025. These may well represent prompt nirvana — crisp, powerful, and highly usable.

What follows is a breakdown and analysis of each prompt. The core message is simple but powerful: have a clear use case, define your parameters, and guide the AI on how the interaction should unfold. These prompts show how clarity + structure = exceptional AI output.

Prompt 1: Draft a Project Brief

PROMPT: Please help me draft a project brief. Ask me questions, one at a time, until you have the information needed to draft a document giving a high-level overview, objectives, scope, breakdown of key stakeholders, key deliverables, reporting requirements, budget and timeline. Structure it in a compelling way that clearly lays out the benefits that it will create.

• ✅ Use When: Starting a new initiative or aligning stakeholders.
• 💪 Strengths:
  • Interactive: Builds the brief through guided questioning.
  • Comprehensive: Captures everything needed in one clear flow.
  • Adaptable: Works across industries and project types.

Prompt 2: Hierarchical Task Breakdown

PROMPT: Break down my task of [insert task here] in three hierarchical layers. 1: Major work items, 2. Their sub-tasks. 3. The specific actions people will perform. Number each action in the 1.2.3 format. For every bottom-layer action, provide a duration estimate in working days, list any dependencies or external blockers, state the result it will produce, and include a one-sentence action plan naming the responsible role, indicating when it occurs relative to project start, and explaining how success will be measured. Return the results as plain text in this order: first, the numbered outline, next a compact paragraph of details for each bottom-layer action, and a bullet-pointed list of major risks associated with each action.

• ✅ Use When: Breaking down delivery into tasks and assigning responsibilities.
• 💪 Strengths:
  • Layered: Creates a clear top-down structure.
  • Detailed: Covers timing, blockers, roles, and risks.
  • Ready-to-use: Outputs a full WBS-style plan in plain text.

Prompt 3: Kanban Board Template Generator

PROMPT: Act as an experienced project manager in [your industry]. Our project is to [Your Project]. Please create a Kanban board template that includes space to track all of the relevant information we need to plan and assess our progress. Output the board template in an easy-to-read table format. Then ask me if any changes are needed or if more fields should be added to the template.

• ✅ Use When: Visualizing workflow and team progress in an Agile context.
• 💪 Strengths:
  • Customisable: Tailored by industry and project type.
  • Practical: Outputs an immediately usable table.
  • Collaborative: Encourages refinement through follow-up.

Prompt 4: Stakeholder Communication Letter

PROMPT: Draft a letter tailored for an audience of [insert stakeholders] explaining the impact of [decision/development]. Focus on communicating what, why, and when, in a positive and professional tone.

• ✅ Use When: Delivering changes or decisions to stakeholder groups.
• 💪 Str
  • Clarity: Covers intent, rationale, and timing in one go.
  • Professional: Keeps tone aligned with leadership comms.
  • Versatile: Works for internal or external audiences.

Prompt 5: Stakeholder Email Writer

PROMPT: Write a concise email to [stakeholder name or role] about [update topic]. Start with one sentence that clearly states the purpose, follow with the key facts (what, why, how, where, when, who), clearly spell out one or two direct benefits or impacts for this stakeholder when relevant, and close by inviting them to contact me directly for clarification or further information. Keep the tone straightforward and professional, use plain English, and format it as an email that’s ready to cut, paste, and send

• ✅ Use When: You need a ready-to-send project update or decision summary.
• 💪 Strengths:
  • Efficient: Saves time on stakeholder emails.
  • Focused: Sticks to what stakeholders care about most.
  • Polished: Comes out ready to paste into Outlook or Teams.

A good set of prompts and why. Link to original article that spawned this post.