Prompting Strategies

Effective prompting is key to getting the best results from your AI agents.

System Prompts

The system prompt guides agent behavior:

You are a customer support specialist with expertise in:
- Product troubleshooting
- Billing inquiries
- Account management

Your communication style should be:
- Professional yet friendly
- Clear and concise
- Solution-focused

Writing Effective System Prompts

• Define Role: Clearly state what role the agent plays
• Set Expectations: Describe desired behavior
• Provide Context: Include relevant background information
• Give Examples: Show desired response patterns
• Set Boundaries: Specify what the agent should not do

Few-Shot Prompting

Provide examples to guide agent responses:

Examples:
Q: What's your return policy?
A: We offer a 30-day return window. Items must be unused and in original packaging.

Q: How do I reset my password?
A: Visit our login page and click "Forgot Password". Follow the link sent to your email.

Now answer: [User Question]

Chain-of-Thought Prompting

Ask agents to show their reasoning:

Think step-by-step:
1. First, understand what the user is asking
2. Identify any constraints or requirements
3. Consider different approaches
4. Select the best solution
5. Explain your answer clearly

Role-Based Prompting

Assign specific expertise to agents:

• Domain Expert: Subject matter specialist
• Translator: Multi-language support
• Analyzer: Data analysis and insights
• Creator: Content generation

Constraint-Based Prompting

Set clear boundaries:

When responding:
- Keep answers under 150 words
- Only use information from provided documents
- Don't make promises about features not yet available
- Always suggest contacting support for complex issues

Dynamic Prompting

Adjust prompts based on context:

• User Skill Level: Simplify for beginners, technical depth for experts
• Conversation History: Adjust tone and detail based on prior messages
• User Preferences: Respect stated preferences (verbose/concise, casual/formal)
• Domain Context: Tailor prompts to specific use cases

Testing and Refinement

Iteratively improve prompts:

1. Start with a baseline prompt
2. Test with representative examples
3. Collect feedback
4. Identify failure patterns
5. Refine and repeat

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

• Vague or ambiguous instructions
• Conflicting directives
• Unrealistic expectations
• Over-complicated prompts
• Neglecting edge cases

Next Steps

Discover real-world implementations in Examples & Use Cases to see these strategies in action.