Creating Document Templates

Why write the same type of document from scratch every time? Templates save hours and ensure consistency. ChatGPT can help you create templates for any recurring document.

The Power of Templates

Benefits of document templates:

• Consistency - Same quality every time
• Speed - Fill in blanks vs. starting fresh
• Completeness - Built-in checklist of what to include
• Delegation - Others can use your templates

Template Design Principles

Good templates have:

Element	Purpose
Clear sections	Organize information logically
Placeholders	[BRACKETS] show what to fill in
Instructions	Notes on what goes where
Examples	Show what good looks like
Flexibility	Can be adapted without breaking

Creating Your First Template

Step 1: Define the Template

Step 2: Build the Structure

Common Business Templates

Meeting Agenda Template

Project Proposal Template

Job Description Template

Performance Review Template

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Email Templates

Introduction Email Template

Request Template

Report Templates

Weekly Status Template

Incident Report Template

Making Templates Reusable

Adding Instructions

Creating a Template Library

Customizing Existing Templates

Adapting for Your Industry

Simplifying Complex Templates

Template Maintenance

Updating Templates

Practice Exercise

Key Takeaways

1. Template everything you repeat - If you write it twice, make a template
2. Use clear placeholders - [BRACKETS] make fill-in spots obvious
3. Include instructions - Help yourself and others use the template correctly
4. Keep templates updated - Review quarterly for relevance
5. Build a library - Organize templates for easy access
6. Share with your team - Templates are more powerful when shared
7. Start simple - Evolve templates as you learn what works

Templates compound your efficiency over time. Next, let's learn how to use ChatGPT for editing and proofreading.