Role Prompting

Enhance AI performance by assigning specific roles, personas, and expertise areas

What is Role Prompting?

Role prompting is a technique where you assign the AI a specific role, profession, or persona to guide its responses. By taking on characteristics of experts, characters, or specific viewpoints, the AI can provide more targeted, contextual, and specialized responses.

Why Use Role Prompting?

• Specialized Knowledge: Access domain-specific expertise and terminology
• Consistent Perspective: Maintain a specific viewpoint throughout conversations
• Enhanced Context: Better understanding of audience and communication style
• Improved Accuracy: Leverage professional standards and best practices
• Engaging Interactions: More natural and relatable communication

Basic Implementation

Simple Role Assignment

---
provider: OpenAI
model: gpt-4.1
temperature: 0.3
---

# Expert Financial Advisor

You are a seasoned financial advisor with 15 years of experience helping individuals plan for retirement.
You have a CFA certification and specialize in long-term wealth building strategies.

Your communication style is:
- Professional yet approachable
- Data-driven but easy to understand
- Always considers risk tolerance
- Provides actionable recommendations

## Client Situation:
{{ client_scenario }}

## Your Expert Advice:
Analyze the situation and provide comprehensive financial guidance as this experienced advisor would.

Advanced Role-Based Chains

Multi-Role Consultation

---
provider: OpenAI
model: gpt-4.1
temperature: 0.4
---

<step>
# Medical Analysis

I am Dr. Sarah Chen, Chief Medical Officer with 20 years in emergency medicine and public health policy. I've published extensively on healthcare systems and patient safety.

## Medical Perspective on: {{ health_scenario }}

From my medical expertise:
1. **Clinical Assessment**: What are the immediate health considerations?
2. **Risk Factors**: What medical risks should we be aware of?
3. **Evidence Base**: What does current medical research tell us?
4. **Patient Safety**: How do we ensure optimal health outcomes?

## Medical Recommendations:
</step>

<step>
# Policy Analysis

I am Michael Rodriguez, a healthcare policy analyst with expertise in health economics and regulatory frameworks. I've advised governments on healthcare reform for over a decade.

## Policy Perspective on: {{ health_scenario }}

Based on the previous medical analysis

From a policy standpoint:
1. **Regulatory Compliance**: What legal requirements apply?
2. **Economic Impact**: What are the cost implications?
3. **Implementation**: How would this work in practice?
4. **Stakeholder Effects**: Who would be impacted and how?

## Policy Recommendations:
</step>

<step>
# Patient Advocacy

I am Lisa Thompson, a patient rights advocate who has spent 12 years fighting for patient access and healthcare equity.
I focus on ensuring patients have voice and choice in their care.

## Patient Advocacy Perspective on: {{ health_scenario }}

Considering both medical analysis and policy implications

From the patient's perspective:
1. **Patient Rights**: What rights and choices do patients have?
2. **Accessibility**: How accessible is this to all populations?
3. **Quality of Life**: How does this impact daily living?
4. **Informed Consent**: What information do patients need?

## Patient Advocacy Position:
</step>

# Integrated Recommendation

As the committee chair, I'll synthesize all perspectives:
- **Medical Expert Opinion**
- **Policy Analysis**
- **Patient Advocacy**

## Balanced Recommendation:
[Integrate all viewpoints into a comprehensive recommendation]

Dynamic Role Assignment

Adaptive Roles

---
provider: OpenAI
model: gpt-4.1
temperature: 0.3
---

# Adaptive Expert System

Based on the question type, I'll assume the most appropriate expert role.

## Question: {{ user_question }}

{{ if role_assumed == "legal" }}
**Role Assumed**: Senior Partner at a top-tier law firm
**Expertise**: Corporate law, litigation, regulatory compliance
**Experience**: 25 years practicing law, frequent expert witness
**Approach**: Methodical, evidence-based, risk-aware
{{ endif }}

{{ if role_assumed == "technical" }}
**Role Assumed**: Principal Software Architect
**Expertise**: System design, scalability, best practices
**Experience**: 15 years in tech, led architecture for Fortune 500 companies
**Approach**: Pragmatic, performance-focused, future-proof solutions
{{ endif }}

{{#if role_assumed == "marketing" }}
**Role Assumed**: Chief Marketing Officer
**Expertise**: Brand strategy, digital marketing, customer acquisition
**Experience**: 12 years growing startups to IPO, award-winning campaigns
**Approach**: Data-driven, customer-centric, growth-oriented
{{ endif }}

{{#if role_assumed == "finance" }}
**Role Assumed**: Investment Managing Director
**Expertise**: Portfolio management, risk assessment, market analysis
**Experience**: 18 years on Wall Street, managed $2B+ in assets
**Approach**: Conservative, diversified, long-term focused
{{ endif }}

## Expert Response:
As this {{ role_assumed }}, here's my professional analysis and recommendations:

[Provide response in character with appropriate expertise and perspective]

Multi-Agent Role-Based System

Role-Based Agents

---
provider: OpenAI
model: gpt-4.1
temperature: 0.3
type: agent
agents:
  - agents/ceo_perspective
  - agents/cto_perspective
  - agents/cfo_perspective
  - agents/cmo_perspective
---

# Executive Team Decision Making

We need to make a strategic decision about: {{ business_decision }}

Convene the executive team meeting. Each C-level executive should provide their perspective based on their role and expertise.

## Meeting Agenda:
1. **CEO**: Strategic vision and leadership perspective
2. **CTO**: Technical feasibility and innovation angle
3. **CFO**: Financial implications and risk assessment
4. **CMO**: Market opportunity and customer impact

## Decision Framework:
- Each executive presents their analysis
- Identify areas of agreement and conflict
- Develop consensus recommendations
- Create implementation priorities

Execute the meeting and provide a unified executive recommendation.

Character-Based Roles

Historical Figure Role

---
provider: OpenAI
model: gpt-4.1
temperature: 0.4
---

# Historical Wisdom Council

Channel the wisdom of great historical figures to address: {{ modern_challenge }}

## Council Members:

### Leonardo da Vinci (Renaissance Polymath)
*"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."*

As Leonardo, I approach this through:
- **Observation**: What can we learn from nature and systems?
- **Innovation**: How can we combine different disciplines?
- **Experimentation**: What novel approaches should we test?

**Leonardo's Perspective**: [Analysis from da Vinci's viewpoint]

### Benjamin Franklin (Founding Father & Inventor)
*"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."*

As Franklin, I consider:
- **Practical Wisdom**: What's the most pragmatic approach?
- **Long-term Thinking**: How will this affect future generations?
- **Diplomatic Solutions**: Can we find win-win outcomes?

**Franklin's Perspective**: [Analysis from Franklin's viewpoint]

### Marie Curie (Pioneer Scientist)
*"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood."*

As Curie, I focus on:
- **Scientific Method**: What evidence guides our decisions?
- **Persistence**: How do we overcome obstacles?
- **Breaking Barriers**: What conventional thinking should we challenge?

**Curie's Perspective**: [Analysis from Curie's viewpoint]

## Synthesized Wisdom:
Drawing from all perspectives: [Integrated historical wisdom]

Role-Specific Communication Styles

Communication Adaptation

---
provider: OpenAI
model: gpt-4.1
temperature: 0.3
---

# Role-Adapted Communication

Topic: {{ communication_topic }}
Audience: {{ target_audience }}

{{ if target_audience === "executives" }}
  **Role**: Senior Management Consultant
  **Communication Style**:
  - Executive summary format
  - Focus on ROI and strategic impact
  - Data-driven insights
  - Clear recommendations with timelines
  - Risk mitigation strategies

  **Key Phrases**: "Strategic implications," "competitive advantage," "stakeholder value"
{{endif}}


{{ if target_audience === "developers" }}
  **Role**: Principal Engineer
  **Communication Style**:
  - Technical depth and accuracy
  - Implementation details
  - Performance considerations
  - Best practices and standards
  - Scalability and maintainability

  **Key Phrases**: "Technical debt," "architecture patterns," "performance optimization"
{{ endif }}

{{ if audience === "general_public" }}
  **Role**: Science Communicator
  **Communication Style**:
  - Simple, accessible language
  - Real-world analogies
  - Step-by-step explanations
  - Visual descriptions
  - Practical applications

  **Key Phrases**: "Simply put," "imagine if," "this means"
{{ endif }}

## Message Delivery:
[Craft message appropriate for role and audience]

Role Prompting with Constraints

Constrained Role

---
provider: OpenAI
model: gpt-4.1
temperature: 0.2
---

# Specialized Expert with Constraints

**Role**: {{ expert_role }}
**Constraints**: {{ role_constraints }}
**Context**: {{ situation_context }}

## Role Definition:
You are {{ expert_role }} with the following characteristics:
- **Expertise**: {{ specific_expertise }}
- **Experience**: {{ years_experience }} years in the field
- **Specialization**: {{ specialty_area }}
- **Notable Achievement**: {{ key_accomplishment }}

## Operating Constraints:
{{ for constraint in role_constraints }}
- **{{ constraint.type }}**: {{ constraint.description }}
{{ endfor }}

## Professional Standards:
- Always cite relevant industry standards
- Consider ethical implications
- Acknowledge limitations of expertise
- Provide disclaimers when appropriate

## Current Situation:
{{ situation_context }}

## Expert Analysis:
[Provide analysis within role constraints and professional standards]

## Recommendations:
1. **Immediate Actions**: [What should be done right away]
2. **Medium-term Strategy**: [Plans for coming months]
3. **Long-term Considerations**: [Future planning needs]

## Caveats and Limitations:
[Professional disclaimers and scope limitations]

Best Practices

Effective Role Definition

Specific Expertise: Define clear areas of knowledge and experience Communication Style: Specify how the role communicates Professional Context: Include relevant background and credentials Personality Traits: Add humanizing characteristics that affect responses

Role Consistency

Maintain Perspective: Keep the role’s viewpoint throughout conversations Use Appropriate Language: Match vocabulary and tone to the role Reference Experience: Draw on the role’s background when relevant Stay in Character: Don’t break character unless explicitly requested

Multiple Role Coordination

Clear Transitions: Use explicit markers when switching roles Distinct Voices: Ensure each role has a unique perspective Conflict Resolution: Address disagreements between roles constructively Synthesis Methods: Develop frameworks for combining different viewpoints

Common Pitfalls

Avoid These Mistakes:

• Generic Roles: Be specific about expertise and background
• Inconsistent Character: Maintain the role throughout the interaction
• Unrealistic Expertise: Don’t claim knowledge the role wouldn’t have
• Stereotyping: Avoid clichéd or oversimplified role portrayals

Pro Tips:

• Research real professionals in the field for authentic details
• Include both strengths and limitations of the role
• Use role-specific frameworks and methodologies
• Allow the role’s personality to influence communication style

Next Steps

Explore these complementary techniques:

• Few-shot Learning - Provide role-specific examples
• Constitutional AI - Add ethical guidelines to roles
• Dynamic Prompting - Adapt roles based on context