Before you arrive
Please get these two things set up before the session. We'll hit the ground running from the moment we start — no time to troubleshoot installs during the session.
Claude Pro Account
You'll need a Claude Pro subscription to follow along. The free tier won't be enough — Skills, Cowork mode, and most connectors require Pro. If you're not already on Pro, sign up at claude.ai before the session.
- £18/month — cancel any time
- Access to Sonnet, Opus, and Haiku models
- Skills, Cowork mode, and all connectors unlocked
Claude Desktop App
The desktop app is where the magic happens. It unlocks connectors (MCPs), Skills, Cowork mode, and the ability to connect Claude to the rest of your digital life. Download and install it before the session — we'll walk through setup together on the day.
- Available for Mac and Windows
- Free download — sign in with your Claude Pro account
- Just install and log in — we'll configure everything in the session
Download from claude.ai/download
What we'll cover
45 min + Q&AWelcome
2 minWhat Claude actually is (beyond a chatbot), why the desktop app matters, and what you'll walk away with today.
Getting Set Up Right
8 minThe five foundational setup steps — do these once and they shape every conversation you'll ever have with Claude.
- Personalisation — who you are, your context, your preferences
- Privacy settings — turning off data-sharing options
- Memory — enabling chat history reference
- Importing memory from other AI tools
- Connecting your first integrations
Connectors (MCPs) Explained
7 minThe "USB-C of AI" — what connectors are, why they matter, and how to think about permissions the right way.
- Which tools are available — Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Notion, Slack, and more
- How permissions work — read-only defaults, "always ask" vs. "always allow"
- The junior hire mindset — start with limited access, build trust over time
Chat vs. Cowork vs. Code
6 minThree modes, three use cases. Know which one to reach for.
- Chat — quick questions and brainstorming (80% of use cases)
- Cowork — actually doing things: creating files, dashboards, scheduled tasks
- Code — building apps and automations
- The laptop-awake limitation for Cowork scheduled tasks
Skills: Repeatable Workflows
10 min — the big oneSkills are the feature that changes everything. Build them once, use them forever — with your context already baked in.
- Step 1: Enable Skill Creator in settings
- Step 2: Ask Claude to suggest a skill based on your context
- Step 3: Build it collaboratively through conversation
- Step 4: Iterate based on real use
- Live demo: client resource pack skill and email responder with brand voice
Prompting
6 minContext, Format, Voice, and Examples. The framework that makes every prompt land better — and why the examples step is just as important as what you ask for.
Ideas
5 minRapid-fire real use cases you can take straight into your own work.
- Building your brand voice
- Client resource pack builder
- Morning briefing that pulls calendar and inbox
Wrap-Up & Suggested Ideas
2 minA few ideas to take away and try — pick the one that feels most relevant to where you are right now.
Section 5 preview
How to
Prompt Well
Context
Tell Claude who you are, what you're working on, and any background it needs to get it right.
Format
Specify exactly what you want back — length, structure, bullet points or prose, what to include.
Voice
Direct, warm, witty, formal? The voice shapes everything. Be specific about how it should sound.
Examples
Show what good looks like — and tell Claude what bad looks like to you. Both matter equally.
The examples step is the one most people skip. Telling Claude what you don't want is just as powerful as showing what you do.
Suggested ideas to try
Where to start.
A few ideas to get you going after the session. Pick whichever feels most relevant to where you are right now — you don't have to do all of them.
Get the foundation right
Personalisation + privacy settings. Takes five minutes and shapes every conversation after it.
Connect one daily tool
The tool you open every morning — Gmail, Calendar, or Notion is a good starting point.
Turn on Skill Creator
Enable it in settings and ask Claude to suggest your first skill based on how you work.