The prompt
Score 10 of 10, Excellent
Use it when A decision needs sign-off from someone senior, and you want the options, the trade-offs and your recommendation on one page.
- {{background}}
- {{options}}
- {{criteria}}
- {{decision_maker}}
- {{deadline}}
- {{my_recommendation}}
Full prompt and why it works
Prompt
<background> {{background}} </background> <options> {{options}} </options> <criteria> {{criteria}} </criteria> <constraints> - Use only the facts in the background and options. Do not add costs, dates, risks or numbers that are not there; where a fact the decision depends on is missing, write "Unknown:" and name it. - Present each option fairly, including the ones I do not recommend, with the strongest argument for each. - State the recommendation and the reason in plain words, and say what would change it. - No jargon, and no acronym without the full term the first time. </constraints> <format> A memo of no more than one page (about 450 words), in Markdown: 1. Decision needed: one sentence with the deadline and who decides, for example "Choose one of three ways to cover weekend support from next quarter." 2. Background: up to 4 sentences. 3. Options: a table with one row per option and the columns Option, Benefits, Costs and risks, How it meets each criterion. 4. Recommendation: the option, the reason, and what would change it. 5. If approved, next steps: up to 4 bullets with owners named in the background. </format> <task> Based on the material above, write a decision memo for the decision maker, {{decision_maker}}, who must decide by {{deadline}}. My recommendation, if I have one: {{my_recommendation}}. Argue for it only as far as the material supports it; if I have none, compare the options without recommending one. The memo should be clear enough to decide from in one read, without a meeting. If the material does not support my recommendation, say so plainly in the Recommendation section instead of arguing for it. </task>
Variables
- {{background}}
- The situation, why a decision is needed now, and anything already decided.
- {{options}}
- Each option you considered, with what you know about its costs, benefits and risks.
- {{criteria}}
- What the decision should be judged on, one per line, for example cost, time to launch, risk to customers.
- {{decision_maker}}
- Who decides, for example "the COO".
- {{deadline}}
- When the decision is needed.
- {{my_recommendation}}
- The option you recommend, or "none yet" for a neutral comparison.
Why it works
- Layout. Material comes first in tags and the task at the end, the order Google recommends for Gemini, with one delimiter style throughout.
- What to avoid. Every option gets its strongest argument, including the ones you do not recommend, so the memo informs the decision instead of steering it.
- If unsure. If the material does not support your recommendation, the memo says so, and missing facts are labeled "Unknown".