Human-Centric AI Prompt Library
We have unpacked what Human-Centric AI means in one of our earlier blogs - you can check it out here!
In essence, Human-Centric AI is about using AI deliberately to strengthen what makes us human. On an individual level, that usually means starting with how we approach our AI tools, both from a mindset and prompting point of view. Here are some practical starting points for becoming more human-centric in your approach with AI…
How to use this AI Prompt Library
Start with the moment you’re in (tension, uncertainty, low energy, miscommunication, etc) and find the prompt designed for it. Scroll to the situation that resonates most, and you’ll find the leadership model, why it matters, and the prompt that fits that moment.
These prompts are designed to help you be more... more grounded, more aware, more intentional, and more human.
When trust feels fragile or motivation dips
Leadership Lens: Psychological Safety – using the SCARF model
The SCARF Model (Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, Fairness) explains the hidden social triggers that shape how people feel, behave and collaborate. Here's the prompt you can try:
“Here’s a team situation I’m navigating. Help me explore how each SCARF domain might be activated (positively or negatively) and suggest one small shift to improve psychological safety. Situation: [insert here].”
Why this helps: It highlights what may be driving tension or self-protection so you can take a small trust-building action.
When you’ve had a tense interaction or an emotionally heavy week
Leadership Lens: Emotional Intelligence (Daniel Goleman)
Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognise your own emotions, understand their impact, and respond intentionally instead of reactively. Here's the prompt you can try:
“Act as a self-awareness coach. Ask me five straightforward contextual questions to help me reflect on how my emotions have affected my leadership this week, based on Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence model. Suggest a small change I can make for each today.”
Why this helps: It creates a pause between emotion and action, a core leadership skill.
When you sense misunderstanding, tension or misalignment
Leadership Lens: Johari Window
The Johari Window helps leaders understand the gap between what they see in themselves and what others experience, shrinking blind spots through safe transparency. Here's the prompt you can try:
“Here’s a leadership situation I’m unsure about. What might others see that I don’t? Suggest a small action (based on the Johari Window) I can take to explore this with my team. Situation: [insert here].”
Why this helps: It opens space for gentle, non-defensive feedback.
When you’re about to give feedback or communicate something sensitive
Leadership Lens: Intent vs Impact
Intent vs Impact highlights the natural gap between what you meant and how it is received, and how to bridge it thoughtfully. Here's the prompt you can try:
“Here’s a message I want to give to my [insert audience]. My intention is positive, but I’m not sure how it will land. Can you help me reflect on how it might be interpreted, and suggest a clearer way to express that intent? Message: [insert here].”
Why this helps: It aligns clarity, tone and empathy before important conversations.
When you’re learning something new or leading others through an AI-related change
Leadership Lens: Growth Mindset
Growth Mindset is the belief that abilities can be developed through learning, reflection and effort, especially powerful during change. Here's the prompt you can try:
“Here’s a situation where I’m leading a team through AI adoption. Can you help me identify whether I’m modelling a growth or fixed mindset, and offer one way I could better demonstrate growth to others? Situation: [insert here].”
Why this helps: Teams take cues from how leaders handle uncertainty - this strengthens psychological safety during experimentation.
When frustration, assumptions or unseen bias might be creeping in
Leadership Lens: Ladder of Inference
The Ladder of Inference explains how we jump from data to conclusions through assumptions, stories and meaning-making, often unconsciously. Here's the prompt you can try:
“Here’s a situation I’m interpreting a certain way. Using the Ladder of Inference, help me walk down the ladder and explain: What did I observe? What assumptions might I be making? How could I check them? Situation: [insert here].”
Why this helps: It helps you respond based on evidence, not emotions.
When you want to check if your message sounds human and authentic
Leadership Lens: Authentic Leadership
Authentic Leadership is about aligning what you say with who you are, ensuring your values, tone and intent show up consistently. Here's the prompt you can try:
“Here’s a message I drafted. Help me check if it sounds like my authentic voice, and suggest how to make it more human and less corporate. Suggest ways I can sound more authentic for my intended audience, which is [insert intended audience]. Here’s the message: [Insert draft message]”
Why this helps: It protects trust and relational clarity during moments of impact.
When you feel flat, disconnected or low on purpose
Leadership Lens: Ikigai
Ikigai helps you explore the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs and what your work requires. Here's the prompt you can try:
“Here’s what my current role involves. Based on the Ikigai model, help me explore where I feel most energised and where I may be out of balance. Suggest one small adjustment I could make.” [Insert or attach current role description]
Why this helps: It reframes your day-to-day work through purpose, energy and meaning.
When you want to turn learning into action and impact
Leadership Lens: Learning Transfer / Application
Learning Application shifts development from “knowing” to “doing”, embedding new skills into consistent behaviour. Here's the prompt you can try:
“Help me reflect on what I’m learning right now - not just the skills, but how I’m applying them and what kind of leader I’m becoming through this process. I am learning about” [insert topic]
Why this helps: It reinforces micro-habits and helps translate theory into leadership practice.
When you want to rethink how you spend your time
Leadership Lens: Human-Centric Redesign
Human-Centric Redesign asks: if AI changes the work, how can you redesign your role around the most human, high-value parts of leadership? Here's the prompt you can try:
“If AI could handle 30% of what I do today, how could I use that time to strengthen distinctly human skills like empathy, judgement, creativity or connection? Suggest 3 practical ways to start.” [Attach your CV or job description for a more tailored answer.]
Why this helps: It reframes AI not as a productivity tool but as a catalyst for deeper human capability.
Written by Jo Grubb
Human Shift Advisory - 2026
A note on AI use in this article: For this article, AI helped with image creation, research discovery, pressure-testing ideas and editing. The thinking, synthesis, interpretation and conclusions remained human. Industry experience and expertise shaped the ideas and determined what to use, challenge, change or leave behind. This reflects the philosophy behind Human-Centric AI, which is the deliberate use of AI to strengthen what makes us human.