Tired of AI’s Generic Answers? Flip the Script with This Simple Trick

Use the Socratic Method to turn AI into your personal thinking coach

Prompt AI to prompt you as an expert and professional coach.

We’ve all been there: You type a prompt in an AI tool like ChatGPT, expecting a brilliant, well-reasoned answer, but what you get back is underwhelming. Rather than struggling to build the best prompt, why not have AI prompt you to get the most insightful and tailored response to receive precisely what you need? One approach is to use the Socratic Method for AI prompting. This simple but powerful strategy turns AI from an answering machine into a coach for your mind.

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What is the Socratic Method, and why does it improve AI responses?

💡 Note: I am not an expert on the Socratic Method. I learned about it and realized it could be a great way to get better results from an AI chatbot, especially when you are not an expert on a particular topic.

The Socratic Method for AI is a teaching and problem-solving technique that involves asking questions to stimulate critical thinking and expose underlying assumptions. Instead of directly stating facts, the goal is to challenge ideas, clarify concepts, and refine your thoughts through interactive dialogue.

When applied to AI, the Socratic Method enhances AI responses by transforming interactions into a guided thinking process rather than a one-time question-and-answer exchange. The method turns AI into your collaborative brainstorming partner rather than just a glorified search engine.

Why does the Socratic Method work with AI? 💭

AI can deliver fantastic results, but only if it fully understands the nuances of your request. The Socratic Method for AI prompting ensures AI isn’t just giving you a surface-level answer. Instead, structured reasoning guides you toward a more precise solution.

For example, rather than giving a generic marketing strategy, AI will challenge you to think about:

• Your unique audience

• Your competitive advantages

• The most effective messaging for your brand

This process removes the guesswork and replaces it with a structured, laser-focused strategy tailored just for you.

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Let’s try it! Crafting a marketing strategy with AI

Let’s take a situation most people can relate to: developing a marketing strategy for a new product. Here is how you might prompt the AI:

Prompt: "What’s a good marketing strategy for a new productivity app?"

You will receive a thoughtful response, but it will likely be very generic and feel more like a free template you can download rather than an actionable and tailored response:

AI Response: To successfully market a new productivity app, focus on a clear, unique value proposition differentiating it from competitors, such as AI-driven automation, seamless integrations, or a minimalist interface. Start with a strong pre-launch campaign using social media teasers, influencer partnerships, and beta testing with early adopters to generate buzz…

The response is decent, but it certainly isn’t groundbreaking, and there are insufficient specifics to take action immediately.

Step 1: Craft your Socratic Method prompt 🤔