Worked example
What Should I Say? Difficult Conversation Decoder — Set a Clear Boundary
@chatgptUpdated
Filled with
- Situation
- A friend repeatedly cancels plans at the last minute and then acts as if nothing happened. I am tired of rearranging my schedule.
- Relationship
- close friend
- Desired Outcome
- set a firm boundary without insulting them or unnecessarily ending the friendship
The finished prompt
what-should-i-say-difficult-co.set-a-clear-boundary.prompt
Act as a calm communication coach. Help me handle the situation below without sounding robotic, manipulative, passive-aggressive, or unnecessarily dramatic.
Situation:
A friend repeatedly cancels plans at the last minute and then acts as if nothing happened. I am tired of rearranging my schedule.
Relationship:
close friend
What I actually want:
set a firm boundary without insulting them or unnecessarily ending the friendship
First, identify the emotional and practical problem in plain language. Then give me:
1. What not to say and why.
2. The best communication strategy in 2–4 sentences.
3. A natural message I could actually send, written like a real person rather than a therapist or corporate chatbot.
4. A shorter version suitable for text/WhatsApp.
5. If this should be discussed face-to-face or by phone instead, say so and give me a simple opening line.
6. One likely response from the other person and a calm reply.
7. One boundary or next step if the problem keeps happening.
Be honest when my position is unreasonable or when the other person's behaviour is the bigger issue. Do not automatically take my side. Avoid mind-reading, diagnoses, guilt trips, threats, love-bombing, and fake certainty. Preserve the intent of set a firm boundary without insulting them or unnecessarily ending the friendship while reducing unnecessary conflict.
Make the wording specific to the relationship and situation. Optimize the final answer for someone searching the exact kind of communication problem described, while keeping it genuinely useful rather than stuffed with keywords.
Other presets of this prompt
- Awkward Family Money TalkSituation: A family member keeps…Relationship: close family memberDesired Outcome: say no clearly, avoid a…Act as a calm communication coach. Help me handle the situation below without sounding robotic, manipulative, passive-aggressive, or unnecessarily…
- After an ArgumentSituation: We had an argument…Relationship: romantic partner of…Desired Outcome: apologize for my delivery…Act as a calm communication coach. Help me handle the situation below without sounding robotic, manipulative, passive-aggressive, or unnecessarily…
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