Delegate Your First AI Task

Estimated time: 5 minutes

• Click here to download the Claude Desktop app for Windows or MacOS. 

• Install it on your computer
• Open the app
• Sign in to your Claude account, or create a free account if you don’t already have one. A browser will open for you to complete this step.

Done? 

Open Step 2.

Estimated time: 2 minutes 

Cowork requires a paid Claude plan like Pro and higher plans. If you already have Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise, you can skip this step.

In the Claude Desktop app, there are three ways you can upgrade the plan. Click "Upgrade" at the top or click on "Cowork" next to "Chat" or click on your user name and then "Upgrade plan".

Just click on any of these (highlighted yellow).

All three options will take you to a page with all available plans.

The minimum plan you need is Claude Pro which currently costs $20/month if billed monthly, or $17/month with annual billing.

Recommendation: Claude Pro is the right plan for almost everyone following this guide to get started. Don't overthink it. Click on "Get Pro Plan". In the next screen, enter your credit card payment information to complete this step.

You can always upgrade later if you need higher usage limits.

Back to the Claude Desktop app. Done?

Open Step 3.

Estimated time: 2 minutes

Create a new folder on your computer. 

📁 AI Workspace

I recommend naming it 'AI Workspace', but you can choose any name you like.

This workspace folder becomes the foundation of your AI Business Operating System.

This is where your AI agent stores and accesses the business context, documents, and instructions it needs to work effectively.

Don't add any files yet.

We'll build your AI Workspace in the next step.

Done?

Go to Step 4.

Estimated time: 2 minutes

Start a new Cowork task in the Claude Desktop app.

Connect your AI Workspace' folder to this Cowork task.

Click on the folder icon 'Project or folder'

Choose "add a folder". Select your 'projectorfolder' folder you created in the previous step.

For this guide, keep the model Sonnet 5 High, which is recommended for most everyday business tasks.

Claude will ask for permission to make changes inside your AI Workspace folder.

Select Always Allow.

This gives Claude permission to create folders, organize files, and update documents inside your AI Workspace without asking you for approval every time.

This permission applies only to your AI Workspace folder, not to the rest of your computer.

Your AI Workspace becomes the foundation of your AI Business Operating System.

Go to Step 5.

Estimated time: 10 minutes

This is the most important step in this guide.

Claude will interview you to understand your business before recommending how your AI Workspace should be organized.

Take your time. Claude is designing a workspace specifically for your business. The better it understands your business, the better your AI Workspace will be.

Start a new Cowork task, then copy and paste the prompt below.

Copy this prompt:

"Help me design and build my AI Workspace.

Before creating anything, interview me to understand my business.

Continue asking questions until you have enough information to confidently recommend my AI Workspace. Do not move to the next question until I've answered the current one.

Your goal is to understand:

• My business and services

• My ideal clients

• The types of projects I work on

• The documents I use regularly

• The processes I repeat most often

• The information I want you to remember

• The kinds of tasks I eventually want to delegate

Once you understand my business well enough, recommend the simplest folder structure that will support my business today while allowing it to grow over time.

At a minimum, include a Business Context folder.

Recommend any additional folders that make sense for my business and explain why you recommend each one.

Wait for my approval before creating anything.

If you're unsure about something, ask another question instead of making assumptions.

Once I approve the folder structure:

• Create all approved folders.

• Create a CLAUDE.md file in the root of the AI Workspace containing the permanent instructions you'll use when working with me and my business.

• Create a MEMORY.md file in the root of the AI Workspace to capture important information, preferences, and decisions over time.

• Inside the Business Context folder, create:

ABOUT_ME.md

Key information about me, including my background, goals, expertise, working style, and preferences.

BUSINESS_OVERVIEW.md

An overview of my business, including services, ideal customers, differentiators, markets served, and core processes.

BRAND_VOICE.md

My communication style, tone of voice, writing preferences, and brand guidelines.

When everything is complete, summarize what you created and explain how each folder and file will be used.

Use the information gathered during our conversation to create meaningful first drafts. Do not create placeholder content."

Follow the interview from beginning to end.

Claude may pause while it thinks, uses tools, or creates files. That's expected.

🎉What Just Happened?

Open your AI Workspace.

A few minutes ago, it was empty.

Now you'll find:

✅ A folder structure designed specifically for your business.

✅ A CLAUDE.md file with the first draft of your permanent AI instructions.

✅ A MEMORY.md file to capture important information and decisions over time.

✅ A Business Context folder containing your business profile, business overview, and brand voice.

This is the difference between chatting with AI and delegating work.

Claude interviewed you, designed a workspace around your business, asked for your approval, and built it for you.

Every AI Workspace is different because it's built around the way you work.

Done?

Go to Step 6.

Estimated time: 5 minutes

Your AI Workspace gives Claude Cowork context.

Now let's give Cowork access to your first tool or app.

Click on Customize → Connectors.

Click on → Connectors → Add → Browse connectors.

I recommend to start with your Calendar. You can choose find and choose any connector you prefer to add.

Example: Find the Google Calendar connector. Click on the "+" sign to add it.

Claude will open a new tab in your browser for you to log into your Google Calendar. Follow the steps.

Start with one connector. You can always connect other essential apps like your email and CRM.

Done?

Go to Step 7.

Estimated time: 5 minutes 

Open a new Cowork task. 

Before you continue, make sure:

✅ Cowork is selected.

✅ Your AI Workspace is attached to the task.

Now it's time to delegate real work.

Don't tell Claude how to do it.

Just describe the outcome you want.

Try one of these examples.

Example 1

Schedule a 30-minute buyer consultation with [Buyer's Name] on [Monday at 3:00 PM]. Prepare the invitation as if you were me.

(Change the name, day, or time if you'd like.)

Example 2

Review my calendar for next week and recommend one change that would make my schedule more productive.

Take a moment to review the result. 

Open the calendar event Claude Cowork created.

Notice that Cowork didn't just schedule a meeting.

It used the information from your AI Workspace to write an invitation that reflects your business, your communication style, and your brand voice.

That's the difference between prompting and delegating.

You described the outcome.

Cowork figured out how to get there.

Congratulations! 

You've delegated your first task to your AI Agent Claude Cowork!

You're no longer just chatting with AI.

You're putting AI to work for you.