System prompt

How to write an effective system prompt — the core intelligence of your AI assistant.

The system prompt is the most important component of your AI assistant. It defines the assistant’s personality, behavior, knowledge, and capabilities. Think of it as the brain and training manual combined.

Editing options

You have three ways to create and edit your system prompt:

AI Prompt Editor

Chat with AI to edit your prompt in plain language. Best for quick iterations and improvements.

Flow Builder

Visual drag-and-drop editor. Best for structured, multi-path conversations.

Classic editor

Direct text editing. Best for full control and manual fine-tuning.

Start with a template

To get up and running quickly:

1. Open your assistant settings

   Navigate to Assistants and click on the assistant you want to edit.

2. Find the system prompt field

   Scroll to the System Prompt section.

3. Open the template library

   Click the Templates button and choose a template that matches your use case.

4. Customise for your needs

   Replace placeholder information with your company name, products, and specific instructions.

Language support

Your system prompt can be written in any language, regardless of the spoken language setting:

• Write the prompt in your preferred language.
• Set the spoken language separately in assistant settings.
• The AI will follow the prompt’s instructions while speaking in the selected language.

For example, you can write the prompt in English and set the spoken language to Spanish, or write the prompt in German and have the assistant speak in French.

What makes a good system prompt

Role and identity

You are a professional sales representative for [Company]. You specialise in [Product/Service]
and have extensive knowledge of our offerings.

Conversation style

Maintain a friendly, professional tone. Use clear, concise language.
Avoid technical jargon unless specifically asked.

Key information

Our main products are:
- Product A ($X/month): [features]
- Product B ($Y/month): [features]
Current promotion: 20% off the first 3 months

Behavioural guidelines

- Always verify customer information before discussing account details
- Transfer to a human agent if the customer seems frustrated
- Do not make promises about delivery dates

Response framework

When asked about pricing:
1. First understand their needs
2. Present relevant package options
3. Explain the value proposition
4. Share any applicable discounts

Recommended structure

# Role and purpose
[Define who the AI is and its main goals]

# Core knowledge
[Essential information about products or services]

# Conversation guidelines
[How to interact with customers]

# Response patterns
[How to handle specific situations]

# Limitations and boundaries
[What the AI should NOT do]

Best practices

1. Be specific — clear instructions get better results; include examples of good responses and define what not to do.
2. Structure matters — organise information logically, use bullet points and sections, keep related information together.
3. Test and iterate — start with a basic prompt, test various scenarios, refine based on call recordings, and add handling for edge cases.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Too vague: “Be helpful and professional” gives the AI insufficient direction.
• Too rigid: Scripting every possible response reduces natural flow.
• Information overload: Including unnecessary details slows the AI and increases confusion.
• Missing guidelines: Not specifying how to handle common situations leads to inconsistent behaviour.

Testing your prompt

After writing or updating your prompt:

1. Make test calls covering common scenarios, edge cases, difficult situations, and various customer personalities.
2. Listen to call recordings and check response accuracy, tone consistency, and knowledge retention.
3. Refine based on what you hear.

Your system prompt is a living document. Update it regularly based on real call experiences and customer interactions.