What is a System Prompt?
A system prompt is your agent’s briefing document. It’s the first thing the agent reads before every conversation — like onboarding a new employee:- Here’s what you do
- Here’s how to behave
- Here’s what you must never do
The system prompt is the most important part of your agent configuration. A well-written prompt will make even an average model perform excellently.
Anatomy of a Good Prompt
Complete Templates
Template 1: Customer Support Agent
Template 2: Appointment Booking Agent
Template 3: Sales / Lead Qualification
Template 4: Healthcare Triage
Writing Tips for Voice Agents
Voice agents are different from text chatbots. Follow these rules:Short Sentences
Keep every response to 1–2 sentences.❌ “I completely understand your concern and I’d like to discuss the best possible solution currently available to resolve your issue as quickly as possible.”✅ “Got it. Let me pull up your order right now.”
Conversational Tone
Write the way people actually talk.❌ “Kindly provide your order identification number.”✅ “What’s your order number? It should be in your confirmation email.”
Avoid Filler Phrases
The agent generates varied responses — no need for intros.❌ “Absolutely! I’d be more than happy to assist you with that today.”✅ Jump straight to the answer.
Spell Out Numbers
Spoken numbers sound better when written as words.Add to prompt: “Always spell out numbers — say ‘one two three four’ not ‘1234’.”
Advanced Techniques
Define a Persona
A persona makes the agent feel more human and consistent:Write Explicit Negative Instructions
“What NOT to do” is just as important as “what to do”:Define a Clear Escalation Path
Testing Your Prompt
After writing your prompt, run these scenarios:Next Steps
Create an Agent
Now that you have your prompt, build the agent.
Test Your Agent
Learn how to properly test before going live.
Custom Functions
Connect the agent to your own systems and APIs.