Get honest feedback with ChatGPT

A built-in style sets the tone of every chat before you write a single rule.

1. 1Go to chatgpt.com and sign in.
2. 2Select your profile icon, then Personalization.
3. 3In the dropdown next to Base style and tone, pick Candid.

You should see Candid next to Base style and tone.

OpenAI describes Candid as direct, with honest feedback and clear next steps. If you also want fewer words, try Efficient instead.

Less warmth keeps the full answer but drops the friendly padding around it.

1. 1On the same Personalization page, find Characteristics.
2. 2Set Warm to less, and Enthusiastic to less.
3. 3If replies often carry emojis, set Emojis to less too.

You should see Warm and Enthusiastic both set to less.

OpenAI says the less setting keeps the same length and detail, in a calmer and more neutral tone.

Custom instructions apply to every chat, so ChatGPT skips the compliments without being told each time.

1. 1On the Personalization page, make sure Enable customization is on.
2. 2Paste the text below into the Custom Instructions field.
3. 3Keep what you had there before, unless it asks for praise or encouragement.

When I share my work for feedback:
- Start with the biggest problem. No praise, no compliments, no filler.
- Rank the problems by how much they hurt my goal.
- For each one, quote the line, say why it's a problem and show a fix.
- If my facts or my plan are wrong, say so plainly.
- Don't agree with me just to be polite.
- Mention strengths only if I ask for them.
- If something is good enough, say so in one line and move on.

You should see your rules in the Custom Instructions field, with Enable customization on.

The rules open with "When I share my work for feedback", so they kick in only when you ask for a review.

A real draft shows whether the rules hold up, which a made-up test can't.

1. 1Start a new chat.
2. 2Paste the prompt below, fill in the brackets and add your draft at the end.
3. 3Read the first line of the reply. It should name a problem.

Review this [EMAIL / PLAN / PITCH] for [AUDIENCE]. The goal: [WHAT IT SHOULD ACHIEVE]. List the 3 biggest problems, then rewrite the weakest paragraph.

[PASTE YOUR DRAFT]

You should see a reply that opens with the biggest problem, not a compliment.

A few extra lines fix the most common ways feedback stays too soft or too vague.

1. 1If the feedback still feels soft, add this line to your rules: "Open with what's broken. Never wrap criticism in praise."
2. 2If it's blunt but vague, add: "Give every problem a concrete rewrite."
3. 3Start a new chat and run the same draft again to compare.

You should see a sharper reply to the same draft, with a fix next to each problem.