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My learningPut Claude to WorkChapter 8

Chapter 8 of 9

Hand Claude a real task

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What you will get

a first task completed end to end, with a checked deliverable.

PAID PLANS

Until now, Claude answered. Now it works: it reads several files, chains the steps together and hands you a finished deliverable. By default, it asks you before acting.

The steps

  1. In the input box, choose Cowork if your account still shows both modes, then pick a simple, reversible task.
  2. Make a copy of the files involved and work on the copy.
  3. Prepare your brief with prompt P10.

Prompt P10

My first delegated task

What this prompt does: Claude helps you choose a first task and write a clear brief.

I want to hand Claude a first real task, end to end. I am a beginner. Do one step at a time.

1. Choose: ask me what I want to achieve. If I have no idea, suggest: organising a folder of documents; preparing a report from several files; preparing a briefing before a meeting.
2. Frame: ask me, all at once, for the finished result I expect, the files to use, what Claude must absolutely not do, and how I will judge the result.
3. Write the brief:
<brief>
GOAL: what "done" looks like
SOURCES: files, folders, tools
STEPS: 3 to 6
OFF-LIMITS: what Claude does not do without asking me
OUTPUT: format, location, file name
CHECK: what Claude verifies before handing over the work
</brief>
4. After the task: give me a 4-point checklist to verify the result.

For a first time, choose a simple, reversible task, and remind me to work on a copy.

Your result A brief ready to hand over, with its checklist.

Next step Give Claude the brief with your files, then check the deliverable.

  1. Give Claude the brief, along with the files or folder.
  2. Grant permissions case by case: read each request before accepting.
  3. Check the deliverable with the checklist produced by P10.

Your safety rules

  • Only give access to the folders the task needs.
  • Decline any action you do not understand.
  • Claude asks for your explicit permission before permanently deleting a file.
  • Long tasks use more of your usage allowance than a simple conversation.
  • For files on your computer, the Claude Desktop app must be open.
Cowork mode, available on paid plans
Cowork mode, available on paid plans

Three exercises to choose from

01 Organise documents

Take a messy folder (a copy). Ask Claude to rename the files using a clear rule (date_topic), sort them into subfolders and create an index.

02 Prepare a report

Provide 3 to 5 files on the same topic. Ask for a 2-page report: summary, key figures, points of attention, next steps.

03 Prepare a briefing

Before an important meeting, ask Claude to pull together what you know about the topic and prepare a one-page briefing: context, stakes, questions to ask, decision expected.

Expected outcome

1 task completed end to end, deliverable checked.

Next: Final checklist Back to my learningYour place is saved automatically.