ChatGPT
Write a difficult email with a surprisingly good first draft.
~15 min read + 10 min hands-on1 Why this tool matters
ChatGPT is the product that turned large language models into a household tool. It is the baseline every other chatbot is measured against, and it is still the best starting point for most tasks — brainstorming, summarizing, drafting, rewriting, and thinking out loud. You already know how to write an email; what you're learning today is how to have a draft ready in 90 seconds instead of 20 minutes.
2 Walkthrough
- Go to chatgpt.com and sign in (Google or email, both work).
- In the chat box, paste this prompt: Draft a polite but firm email declining a colleague's request to take over their project while they are on leave. I am already at capacity. Keep it under 120 words, professional, and offer one alternative.
- Read the draft. Notice what it got right and what sounds off.
- Reply to the chat with one sentence of revision: Make it warmer and mention that I appreciate being thought of.
- Accept the second draft, or keep iterating. Two or three rounds is normal.
3 Your turn
Today’s exercise
Pick a real email you have been putting off writing — the kind that requires careful wording. Use ChatGPT to produce a draft, then revise it once. Send the email today. (Or at least schedule it.)
4 Pro tip
Give it a role and a constraint. “You are a seasoned operations manager. Draft this in under 100 words” is worth four follow-ups of nudging.