Guide | Productivity

The Genius Mode Protocol

3 moves that change how Claude thinks with you. Most people use Claude like a search engine. These change that.

The short version

3 moves, 10 seconds each

You're probably getting decent answers from Claude. But decent is not the same as what it's capable of. These three moves each take seconds to add and change what you get back.

The full protocol

One tip at a time

Tip 1
Make Claude ask before it answers
Use it when

You're starting a task and your prompt has gaps, fuzzy details, or things you haven't decided yet.

Add this to the end of your prompt
Copy it. 
Ask me clarifying questions until you're 95% confident you can complete the task successfully.
What happens

Claude reads what you sent, finds everything that's vague or missing, and asks you about it before writing a word. You answer the questions. You get back something specific to your situation, not a generic starting point.

Tip 2
Turn Claude into your sparring partner
Use it when

Claude hands you a good-looking answer and you're tempted to use it as-is. That's the moment to push back.

Send this as a follow-up prompt
Copy it. 
Be my sparring partner. Identify my blind spots, risks and assumptions.
What happens

Instead of agreeing with you, Claude pokes holes in your plan. It names your weakest assumptions, where you're missing information, and the riskiest parts you haven't looked at yet. Better decisions, faster.

Tip 3
Build a skill from your conversation
Use it when

You've just done something in Claude that you'll need to do again and don't want to retype the same prompts every time.

Type this when the conversation has done what you wanted
Copy it. 
Create a reusable skill based on this chat.
What happens

Claude analyzes the conversation and wraps the workflow into a skill you can save. Next time, type / to pick it directly, or just describe what you need and Claude picks the right skill on its own. No retyping your preferences from scratch.

Available in Claude Desktop and Cowork. Tips 1 and 2 work in every Claude mode including the website and Claude Code.

Put it all together

Clarify. Spar. Save.

Clarify first. Spar second. Save the workflow third. Do that and you're working with Claude ahead of most people using it today.