How to set up Claude Cowork.
After reaching 20 million people with my Cowork guides, I admit I was wrong:
TL;DR
- The author's previous advice on using files and folders for Claude Cowork is now considered incorrect, particularly for enterprise teams.
- Claude Cowork's core functionalities for organization are Skills (reusable capabilities) and Projects (specific contexts with loaded files and instructions).
- Skills are invoked via slash commands (e.g., /linkedin-post) and can be created using Claude's /skill-creator or external tools like makemyskill.com.
- Projects serve as dedicated spaces for specific contexts like clients or campaigns, maintaining context across all chats within them.
- Optimal Claude Cowork setup involves minimal settings, focusing on Skills and Projects, and utilizing the 'AskUserQuestion' prompt technique.
- Cost-saving strategies include restarting conversations, batching tasks, using less expensive models like Sonnet for simpler tasks, and converting 'about-me' files into skills.
- Integrating dictation tools like Wispr Flow can significantly improve interaction speed and context sharing with Claude Cowork.
- Claude Cowork is best suited for document-shaped outputs like decks and analyses, while Claude Chat is for quick queries and Claude Code for software development.
- The author emphasizes that individual usage speed and efficient prompting are key to maximizing Claude Cowork's potential.