Typically thought of as a productivity tool for automating tasks or introducing efficiencies, AI can do so much more: informing strategy and driving innovation.
And it all starts with AI prompts.
In fact, prompt fluency is emerging as a core leadership skill. This kind of fluency translates complex goals into a clear direction that intelligent systems can amplify. And it draws on the same qualities that define effective leadership: clarity of thought, precise communication and the vision to guide people toward impact.
Dr. Yuliya Fakhr believes that the leaders who master prompt fluency will not just keep pace with AI but shape how it transforms industries and redefines competitive advantage. She is the lead subject matter expert and developer for the DGDR 0104: Prompting for AI Tools course, part of MacEwan University’s School of Continuing Education’s AI-aligned programs launching this fall. Here’s her advice for how to elevate your prompt engineering techniques from simply mechanical to decidedly strategic.
AI is not a vending machine
Dr. Fakhr says the most common mistake professionals make with AI prompts is being too vague. Generic prompts like “summarize this report” or “draft an email” yield predictably generic outputs. “AI is not a vending machine where you type in a clever phrase and receive brilliance on demand,” she says. “It is a collaborator that reflects the way you frame the conversation.”
Just as clear communication is foundational to innovation, strategy and leadership, it’s also the key to unlocking AI’s full power. Rather than relying on the latest tips and tricks, which will become obsolete as systems evolve, she recommends tapping into enduring communication principles: clarity, tone, intent and specificity. Embrace them and you can adapt to any platform or shifting technology.
Don’t ask, design
Instead of treating AI as a transactional tool for automating routine processes, use it as a space for strategic inquiry and approach it like you would a high-value project. “The goal is not to ask but to design,” advises Dr. Fakhr. “That shift will turn AI from a mere curiosity into a driver of speed and innovation.”
She suggests you begin by framing prompts that stretch your perspective rather than reinforce it. Ask the system to stress-test a strategy, reveal blind spots in a proposal or imagine scenarios just beyond your planning horizon. This line of inquiry can sharpen your judgment and expand your strategic vision.
Use a communications-centred framework
The framework for writing prompts that produce compelling responses is based on those principles of effective communication:
- Clarity: state exactly what you need
- Tone: define the style that suits the audience
- Intent: anchor the task in its purpose
- Specificity: set boundaries around length, detail or format
Take “summarize this report,” for example. A stronger prompt would be “Summarize this 20-page report in under 200 words for an executive who needs only the critical risks and next steps, presented in bullet points.”
Now, apply the four principles to it:
- Clarity: summarize this report
- Tone: busy executive
- Intent: critical risks and next steps only
- Specificity: under 200 words, bullet points
You can see how that vague query becomes a laser-focused direction that will yield a high-impact result.
If at first you don’t succeed, iterate
If your first prompt produces a response that’s shallow or imprecise, consider it your cue to adjust the conversation. “Think of AI as a collaborator whose value grows through refinement,” says Dr. Fakhr.
This is where iteration begins. Ask the model to expand reasoning step by step, or reorganize information by strategic importance or reframe the tone for a different audience. Each iteration will bring the output closer to your objective. As Dr. Fakhr puts it, “What separates experts from casual users is not luck but persistence in shaping responses.”
Upcoming course: Prompting for AI Tools
Dr. Fakhr’s course will launch in November 2025. In it, you will build foundational prompting fluency, learning how to write clear prompts, iterate on weak outputs, apply strategies across various AI platforms and much more.
As you hone your prompt fluency and start to drive AI with intention and vision, it transforms from an accessory to efficiency to become a powerful catalyst for leadership foresight. “AI is no longer just helping you move faster,” says Dr. Fakhr, “it is helping you see further.”