Break down tasks: workflow thinking

Day 4 of 30 · 30 Days of AI

Guide the model step by step

Learning goal

Split complex tasks into phases.
Use stepwise prompts to reduce errors.

Why it matters

One-shot prompts for complex tasks often fail.
Phases improve control and quality.

Explanation

Decompose: input → process → output → review.
Ask for outline first, then details.
Insert QA checks (assumptions, missing data, risks).

Examples

One-shot (weak): “Write a full campaign plan.”
Phased (good): “Step 1: give a 5-bullet outline. Step 2: expand each bullet to 80 words. Step 3: add risks and metrics.”

Guided exercise (10–15 min)

Choose a complex task (e.g., campaign, report, SOP).
Write a 3-step prompt (outline → expand → QA).
Run it and note improvements vs one-shot.

Independent exercise (5–10 min)

Apply the pattern to a different task (e.g., meeting summary → action plan).

Self-check

Task split into steps.
QA step included.
Output quality better than one-shot.

Optional deepening

Prompt chaining examples: https://platform.openai.com/docs/guides/prompt-engineering