How to Use Generative AI, Part 9: Reflect

When the pace of technological advancement and information overload challenges our cognitive capacities, we have to develop our metacognitive skill. The art of reflection has become an invaluable tool in sharpening our cognitive skills and enhancing self-awareness. This process of introspection with AI offers the opportunity to refine our thinking, challenge our assumptions, and give us a deeper understanding of the state of our own knowledge.

At the heart of reflective practice is a flexible structure that encourages examining one's thinking through constructive feedback. Engaging with AI can provide a mirror to our thought processes, highlighting biases, gaps in knowledge, and areas for improvement. This interaction is not just about getting the answers but about understanding the 'how' and 'why' behind our questions and the AI's responses. This encourages a meta-level examination of our reasoning, enabling us to become more aware of our cognitive patterns and biases. Kind of like any coach.

When you reflect on an AI response it's like a catalyst for deeper self-awareness and for re-evaluating your assumptions. It prompts you to question the foundations of your knowledge and beliefs. This reflective process is crucial to learning, where the ability to adapt and update our understanding is key to navigating complexity and ambiguity.

The scaffolded challenges we get from AI interactions can build knowledge while nurturing a growth mindset. These challenges, designed to push the boundaries of our understanding, help in busting the illusion of explanatory depth — the false belief that we understand complex concepts more deeply than we actually do. By gradually increasing the complexity of topics and encouraging active engagement, AI can guide us through a learning journey.

Exchanging perspectives with AI also hones decision-making, articulation, and intellectual humility. If you use AI well, you can engage in a dialogue which allows you to consider alternative viewpoints and strategies, and enhance your ability to articulate thoughts coherently and make informed decisions. It can help you to recognize the limits of your knowledge so you can be open to new information and perspectives.

Lastly, the collaborative nature of conversation between humans and AI creates optimal conditions for enriching cognitive skills. This synergy provides a dynamic environment for learning and reflection, where the iterative process of question and response can lead to profound insights and cognitive development.

By embracing a reflective approach, you can unlock the full potential of your cognitive skills, fostering a continuous journey of learning, growth, and self-discovery.

Advancing Critical Thinking Skills: Avoiding Confirmation Bias

Good Prompt:

"Can you explain what confirmation bias is and provide common examples where it might influence decision-making?"

Why It's Good: This prompt initiates the exploration of confirmation bias, asking for a definition and examples. It's a foundational step for understanding how this bias can affect decisions.

Better Prompt:

"I'm interested in improving my critical thinking by recognizing and avoiding confirmation bias. Could you present scenarios or arguments where confirmation bias is at play, and challenge me to identify and correct it?"

Why It's Better: This prompt is more interactive, requesting scenarios that involve confirmation bias, thereby engaging the user in practical exercises to identify and mitigate this bias. It moves beyond theory to application, which is crucial for skill development.

Best Prompt:

"Given the pervasive nature of confirmation bias in shaping our beliefs and decisions, I'd like to practice identifying and challenging this bias in real-time. Please create a series of exercises that simulate decision-making scenarios involving diverse viewpoints, where I have to identify evidence of confirmation bias in my reasoning and propose more balanced analyses. Also, include feedback mechanisms that help me calibrate my ability to detect and correct for this bias."

Why It's Best: This prompt is highly detailed and structured, offering a clear, actionable path for skill enhancement. It not only asks for identification exercises but also demands a recalibration of reasoning processes, with a feedback mechanism for continuous improvement. By incorporating the need for balanced analyses and feedback, this prompt facilitates a deep, practical engagement with the concept of confirmation bias, making it an effective tool for advancing critical thinking skills.

Reflecting on Emotional Intelligence and Confidence Calibration

Good Prompt:

"How can I assess if my confidence levels accurately reflect my emotional intelligence skills?"

Why It's Good: This prompt initiates the process of self-assessment, asking for a method to gauge the alignment between self-perceived confidence and actual emotional intelligence skills.

Better Prompt:

"I often find my confidence in handling emotional situations either too high or too low compared to my actual performance. Can you guide me through exercises or questions that help calibrate my confidence with my emotional intelligence abilities?"

Why It's Better: This prompt acknowledges the discrepancy between self-perceived confidence and actual abilities, seeking specific exercises or reflective questions. It's aimed at fostering a more accurate self-assessment process, making it a practical step towards confidence calibration.

Best Prompt:

"In reflecting on recent interactions, I've noticed a mismatch between my confidence level and my actual effectiveness in navigating emotional challenges. Can we explore this discrepancy through a structured self-assessment of my emotional intelligence skills? Additionally, I would appreciate feedback on how to adjust my confidence levels to more accurately reflect my capabilities and areas for growth."

Why It's Best: This prompt is introspective and detailed, providing personal context and expressing a desire to delve into the specific aspects of emotional intelligence where the discrepancy lies. It asks for a structured approach to self-assessment and seeks actionable feedback for adjusting confidence levels, aiming for a precise calibration between perceived and actual emotional intelligence. By focusing on both assessment and adjustment, this prompt facilitates a comprehensive approach to self-improvement and confidence calibration in emotional intelligence, making it highly effective for personal development.

Writing and Refining a Persuasive Message

Good Prompt:

"Can you give feedback on the persuasiveness of this message I've written?"

Why It's Good: It asks for feedback, which is the essential first step in refining communication skills.

Better Prompt:

"Here's a persuasive message I've crafted on the importance of renewable energy. Can you critique its structure, clarity, and emotional appeal, and suggest improvements?"

Why It's Better: This prompt seeks specific aspects of the message to be critiqued, making the feedback more targeted and actionable.

Best Prompt:

"I've written a persuasive message advocating for renewable energy, aiming to influence both skeptics and supporters. Please analyze its structure, use of evidence, emotional appeal, and overall persuasiveness. Highlight any areas where my arguments may falter or where the message could be strengthened, especially in making it compelling to skeptics."

Why It's Best: This prompt is highly detailed, indicating the message's purpose and target audience. It asks for a comprehensive critique that covers structure, evidence, and appeal, and it specifically addresses potential weaknesses in persuading skeptics, aiming for a nuanced and effective improvement in communication skills. This level of specificity and depth ensures feedback will be directly applicable and highly beneficial for enhancing persuasive skills.

Conversational Scenario:

You are planning an inclusive holiday party for your multicultural team. Use your LLM assistant to conduct a premortem and plan 
real-time interventions.

Step 1: Setup: Describe your proposed party plan to the LLM.

Prompt example: I am planning an inclusive holiday party for my multicultural team and I want to think through what might go well and what might not go well.

Step 2: Conduct a premortem analysis: Have the LLM outline possible pitfalls that could make the event problematic across cultures.

Prompt Example: Imagine it is after the party and it was a complete disaster. What scenarios might have led to failure?

Step 3: Plan real-time interventions

Prompt Example: Please suggest positive interventions in the moment if problematic dynamics or issues emerge at the actual event. What contingency plans might I create to address sensitivities and miscommunications gracefully.