Getting Better Results from Claude

Claude's Approach

Claude 4.x models are designed to be direct, explicit, and grounded. They follow instructions precisely and communicate concisely. Understanding this helps you write better prompts.

Be Explicit About What You Want

Claude takes instructions literally. If you want Claude to go "above and beyond" with creative suggestions or extra detail, say so explicitly.

For action: "Change this paragraph to be more concise" (Claude will make the change)

For suggestions: "Suggest ways to improve this paragraph" (Claude will offer options)

For proactive help: "Rewrite this and also flag any logical gaps you notice"

If you want Claude to take initiative or be more creative, explicitly request it.

Add Context AND Motivation

Claude performs better when it understands WHY something matters. Don't just give instructions—explain the purpose.

Instead of: "Summarize this document."

Try: "Summarize this document for my CEO who needs to make a budget decision in 10 minutes. Focus on the financial implications and recommended actions."

The motivation helps Claude prioritize the right information.

Leverage Long Context

Claude excels at processing large amounts of information. Don't hesitate to include:

• Full documents for analysis rather than excerpts
• Multiple examples of the style you want (5-10 examples work great)
• Complete background information rather than summaries
• Entire email threads or conversation history

More context usually means better results with Claude.

Ask for Step-by-Step Thinking

For complex tasks, ask Claude to think through the problem before answering:

"Before writing the final proposal, first outline:

1. What are the key points this should cover?

2. What order makes the most sense?

3. What potential objections should I address?

Then write the full proposal."

This produces more thoughtful, thorough responses.

Use Claude for Multiple Perspectives

Claude is excellent at seeing different angles:

• "Review this plan from the perspective of a skeptical CFO"
• "What are the three strongest objections to this idea?"
• "How would different stakeholders react to this announcement?"

Ask Claude to argue against your ideas to strengthen them.

Format Control

Claude responds well to explicit format instructions. Use these approaches:

• Specify structure directly: "Use three sections: Problem, Solution, Next Steps"
• Provide a template: Show exactly what format you want
• Match output to context: If you write casually, Claude responds casually

For consistent formatting, XML-style tags work well:

"Format your response like this:

Bulleted list"

Give Direct Feedback

When refining outputs, be specific about what to change:

Instead of: "Try again"

Try: "The structure is good, but the tone is too formal. Rewrite it like I'm emailing a colleague I've worked with for years. Keep the same three main points."

Direct feedback gets faster improvements than vague requests.

Use Claude for Review

Claude excels at reviewing and improving your work:

• "Review this proposal and identify weak arguments"
• "What questions would a skeptical client ask about this?"
• "Find any logical inconsistencies in this plan"
• "Is there anything missing that I should address?"

Use Claude as a thoughtful second pair of eyes.