10 tips and tricks to work faster

Many people use ChatGPT as a smart search engine. Ask a question, get an answer, and move on.

It works but leaves a an incredible amount of value on the table.

Over the past few years, ChatGPT has evolved beyond a simple chatbot. It can browse the web, analyze files, generate images, store memory, and conduct virtual voice conversations. Yet many users continue to interact with it as they did on day one.

The result is a gap between what ChatGPT can do and what most people use it for.

If you’ve ever felt that ChatGPT responses are generic, repetitive, or inconsistent, the problem may not be the model. This is it the way you use it.

Here we are ten features and techniques which has dramatically improved the quality of responses I receive from ChatGPT.

1. Use the Code

Language examples are great for language practice. But math is not a language. And there is no logic.

The problem occurs when ChatGPT tries to solve problems that require math or logic to be used language.

Although modern models are much better at thinking and calculating than earlier versions, mistakes still happen.

Whenever accuracy is important add the following phrase to your notification:

Use Code

Here are the questions above when asked using “Use code”

This is especially useful for financial analysis, statistics, compound interest calculations, percentage changes, data analysis, and any task where accuracy is important.

The difference is simple: instead of measuring the response, the model uses logic code.

2. Asking Clarifying Questions

One of the biggest mistakes users make is thinking that ChatGPT already knows enough to answer their question.

Imagine asking someone to help you write a resume without telling them yours

1. Experience
2. Skills
3. Target role
4. Industry

Most people would ask follow-up questions even beforehand giving advice. ChatGPT should be no different.

By asking the model to gather context before responding, you reduce guesswork and increase the relevance of the final response.

This is especially useful for tasks such as career advice, business planning, travel recommendations, content creation, and technical troubleshooting. In these cases, the quality of the output is often determined by the quality of the information available.

A few seconds spent answering clarifying questions is often worth the best result.

3. Give Examples Instead of Instructions

Most users spend several paragraphs explaining what they want one example would have done the job better.

If you are looking for LinkedIn posts, provide LinkedIn posts that you like in your style. Looking for an article? Give it your favorite style. If you want a certain tone, show the model what that tone looks like.

Instead of forcing ChatGPT to interpret your description of writing style, layout, or format, you show it exactly what success looks like.

This approach often produces a greater improvement in output quality than writing complex data.

4. Set Custom Orders

One of the most overlooked features of ChatGPT is Custom Commands.

Think about how often you repeat the same information.

• Your job.
• Your writing preferences.
• Your preferred response style.
• Your level of expertise.

Without Custom Commands, ChatGPT starts every conversation as if meeting you for the first time.

With Custom Orders, the model begins each conversation with a basic understanding of who you are and how you prefer to work.

This reduces repetition and creates a more consistent feel for all conversations.

For regular users, this feature can save a lot of time.

5. Use Memory Intentionally

Memory and Custom Commands complement each other.

Custom commands tell ChatGPT how to communicate with you. Memory helps to recall relevant information later.

The key word here is appropriate.

Useful memories include long-term projects, work goals, writing preferences, recurring workflows, and personal preferences that consistently improve future interactions.

The best results come from treating memory as a designated workspace rather than a storage closet.

When managed correctly, memory transforms ChatGPT from a tool you train over and over again to one that gradually adapts to the way you work.

Tips: To understand how well ChatGPT understands you, run the following command:

"What can you say about me based on our previous interactions?"

6. Create Dedicated Projects

Most users have a bunch of disconnected chats spread across their chat history.

• Job search in one chat.
• Another side project.
• Research notes elsewhere.

Projects solve this problem by creating dedicated workspaces for specific purposes.

Instead of spreading information across unrelated threads, you can keep threads, files, instructions, and context organized for a single purpose.

The result is less repetition, better continuity, and a more organized workflow.

Whether you’re preparing for interviews, writing content, conducting research, or building software, Projects help maintain context that would otherwise be lost.

7. Upload Files Instead of Describing Them

Most people spend a few minutes explaining what’s inside a document.

In most cases, it is faster and more accurate to simply upload the document itself.

Whether it’s a resume, research paper, spreadsheet, presentation, or contract, providing source material allows ChatGPT to work directly on the information rather than relying on your summary.

This reduces inconsistencies and improves the quality of the analysis.

Whenever possible, let the model read the story instead of explaining it yourself.

Most users never go beyond text conversations.

That’s like buying a smartphone and using it only for calls.

Here is the key to unlocking all that power. Use this phrase at the end of your message:

Use Tools

This allows the model to access any and all tools available (Web, Code, Search, Image, Audio, Visualization etc.).

User
  ↓
LLM
  ↓
Tool (Web, Code, Search, Image, etc.)
  ↓
LLM
  ↓
Response

This leads to a much higher quality response. This is especially true if you own a in addition ChatGPT subscription.

Big productivity gains often result combining multiple tools together.

9. Use Voice Mode to Prepare for Conversation

Preparing for an interview is one of the best ways to use Voice Mode.

Typing responses and speaking responses are very different skills.

Most of the candidates find this out when they go in for the actual interview.

Voice Mode it allows you to simulate realistic interview situations, answer questions aloud, get feedback, and practice communication skills in a low-pressure environment.

This is especially useful for ethical discussions, technical discussions, presentations, and public speaking preparation.

The experience feels much closer to a real conversation than a traditional text conversation.

10. Make ChatGPT Criticize Your Responses

Most users stop after the first response. They take the answer at its face value, and call it a day.

But you may find that sometimes the answer is not satisfactory. Sometimes it has nothing to do with your job at all. In such cases the following/phrase comes in handy:

Ask clarifying questions if necessary.

This is one of the most effective ways I’ve found to ask ChatGPT!

Every answer contains assumptions, limitations, and potential blind spots. By forcing the model to identify them, you often uncover weaknesses that would otherwise be overlooked.

This is especially important when making decisions, evaluating arguments, writing essays, or comparing alternatives.

• The first response is usually positive.
• The second answer is usually better.
• The third answer is where it’s interesting details are starting to emerge.

Final thoughts

The biggest misconception about ChatGPT is that

An AI chatbot

Which is not really false, but it will limit its real power.

The level of results you get using ChatGPT depends largely on:

• You use one tool or an entire toolbox.
• Asking clarifying questions
• Giving examples
• Using memory
• Loading files
• It executes the code
• Practice with voice conversations
• To challenge its own ideas

Individually, each process offers a small improvement.

Together, see fundamentally change the way ChatGPT fits into your workflow.