← Your pathLevel 1 · Beginner
Pro
Turn down a bad-fit lead without burning it
Rung 4 of 10 · Constraints + negative instructions
1 · Learn the move · Constraints + negative instructions
Tell the AI the tone AND what to avoid, no long excuses, no making them feel like a reject. A clean decline with a warm referral keeps your reputation and maybe earns a future one.
You are an agent. Decline to take on a lead who needs something outside my market, without losing goodwill. Warm, brief, offer one referral or resource. Do NOT over-explain or apologize repeatedly. Under 90 words. [situation]
2 · Your turn — you write the prompt
A referral wants help buying a $180K rural property two hours away, well outside where you work and worth your time. Write a prompt for a kind decline that hands them off well.
Remember: the AI sees only your prompt — not this page. If the situation isn't in your prompt, it doesn't exist.