ChatGPT
Practical ways to use ChatGPT in your work.
ChatGPT in 2026: modes, models and plans
Chat, Work and Codex, GPT-6 and the Thinking slider, and what each plan really gives you.
Free lesson
Tool plan needed: Any plan
Set it up properly
A 15-minute settings run: custom instructions in British English, memory, training, temporary chats, security and app permissions.
Free lesson
Tool plan needed: Any plan
Projects: one home per client or workstream
Give each client, bid or recurring job its own space with files, instructions and memory, so you never re-explain.
Pro lesson
Tool plan needed: Any plan
Deep research you can trust
Get a cited, structured report on a competitor, market, supplier or regulation, from sources you choose.
Pro lesson
Tool plan needed: Any plan · limited on Free and Go
Writing, files and data
Draft reports from your documents, analyse spreadsheets, work inside Excel and Sheets, and turn recordings into notes.
Pro lesson
Tool plan needed: Any plan · audio uploads need a paid plan
Work mode: hand over a whole job
Give ChatGPT a multi-step job, from research to finished spreadsheet, deck or Site, while you approve the important steps.
Pro lesson
Tool plan needed: Plus or above (limited desktop version on Free and Go)
Plugins and skills: replace your custom GPTs
Custom GPTs retire on 11 December 2026. Migrate the ones you rely on and build new plugins without code.
Pro lesson
Tool plan needed: Any plan to use · Go or above to create
Connect email, calendar and files
Link Gmail or Outlook, your calendar and Drive or SharePoint, so ChatGPT works on your real week.
Pro lesson
Tool plan needed: Any plan · some apps and actions vary by plan
Connect your business tools
Use Slack, HubSpot, Salesforce and Company Knowledge from ChatGPT, and reach thousands of other apps through Zapier.
Pro lesson
Tool plan needed: Plus or above
Create: images, design and video
Make images in ChatGPT, then use Canva, Adobe, Gamma and Figma for on-brand designs, decks and diagrams.
Pro lesson
Tool plan needed: Any plan · partner tools may charge
Automate: scheduled and triggered tasks
Run prompts on a timer, or when an email or Slack message arrives, within your plan's limits and with approvals on.
Pro lesson
Tool plan needed: Any plan · event triggers need Plus or above
Practice challenge: meeting to momentum
Turn one real meeting into a summary, a follow-up email, a process map and a weekly chase, using what you've learned.
Pro lesson
Tool plan needed: Plus or above recommended
Cheat sheet
Where to click
- Switch between Chat and Work:
On the web or mobile, select Work at the top of the screen, then switch back to Chat | In the desktop app, select ChatGPT from the menu, then choose Chat or Work from the toggle - Set the Thinking level:
Open the model menu in the message box and select GPT-6 | Move the Thinking slider between Instant, Medium and High | Leave it on Medium for your next piece of analysis - Set custom instructions:
Open Settings > Personalization | Turn on Enable customization | Paste your text into the Custom Instructions field and save - Switch off model training and review memory:
Open Settings > Data controls | Select Improve the model for everyone, turn it off and select Done | Open Settings > Personalization > Memory and review the Memory summary - Set app permissions and security:
Open Settings > Security and review Security history | Open Settings > Plugins > Permissions and choose Always ask | Open Settings > Notifications and turn on Push or Email for tasks
Prompts
Map my week to Chat, Work or deep research
You are an experienced operations coach who helps UK professionals use ChatGPT well.
About me: I'm a {{role}} at a {{business_type}} in the UK. My most time-consuming weekly tasks are: {{weekly_tasks}}.
Task: for each of my tasks, recommend the best way to use ChatGPT. Choose one of: Chat (quick drafting or questions), Work (a multi-step job ending in a finished file), deep research (a cited report from many sources), or "not a good fit".
Constraints:
- Be realistic. If a task needs human judgement or confidential data I shouldn't share, say so.
- Use British English.
- Don't invent features. If something depends on my plan, write "check your plan".
Output: a table with columns Task, Best tool, Why (one sentence), First prompt to try (one sentence I can copy). Then 3 bullet points on where I'll save the most time.Decision helper (compare Instant and High)
You are a commercially minded finance business partner at a UK company.
Decision: {{decision}}
What I know so far: {{facts}}
Task: help me decide.
Constraints:
- Separate facts I gave you from assumptions you are making, and label each assumption.
- Use £ and UK terms (VAT, HMRC) where relevant.
- If a number is missing, show the calculation with a placeholder rather than inventing it.
Output:
1. A one-line recommendation.
2. A short table of options with cost, risk and effort.
3. The 3 questions I should answer before committing.Write my custom instructions
You are an expert at writing ChatGPT custom instructions for busy UK professionals.
About me:
- Role: {{role}}
- Organisation: {{organisation}}
- Who I usually write for: {{audience}}
- How I like answers: {{style}}
Task: write my custom instructions.
Constraints:
- Under 1,400 characters in total so they fit every plan.
- Always include: British English spelling, £, DD/MM/YYYY dates, UK law and terminology by default, answer first then detail, flag uncertainty, never invent statistics or sources, ask one clarifying question if my brief is ambiguous.
- Write in the second person ("You are helping...").
Output: two labelled blocks, "About me" and "How to respond", ready to paste, followed by the character count.Settings test email
Write a short email to {{recipient}} about {{topic}}.Dates to watch
- Auto-switching to thinking retired (Plus and Pro):
- GPT-6 in Chat: