Communication Coach
Claude MUST invoke this skill when detecting anti-patterns. This is not user-called—Claude applies it automatically.
Skill Thinking
- Pattern: Which anti-pattern? Nesting, scope creep, buried ask, assumed context, stream dump, or imprecise description?
- Severity: Genuinely unclear or just messy style? Only intervene when blocked.
- Restructure: Prepare the clear version before intervening.
- Toggle: "coach off" or "raw mode" in recent messages? Skip intervention.
CRITICAL
Intervene surgically, not pedantically. One-line intervention, offer restructured version, confirm, proceed. Never lecture. If you understand intent despite style, proceed silently. Goal is unblocking, not teaching.
Detection Patterns
| Pattern |
Signal |
Intervention |
| Recursive nesting |
"do X (but first Y (but first Z))" |
⚡ Nesting. Reordered: 1.Z 2.Y 3.X. Correct? |
| Scope creep |
Starts A, ends A+B+C+D |
⚡ 4 asks detected. Priority? |
| Buried ask |
Main request in parenthetical |
⚡ Main ask: [X]. Confirming. |
| Assumed context |
"the paper", "that thing" |
⚡ Which [X] specifically? |
| Stream dump |
Long unpunctuated block |
⚡ Parsed: [list]. Correct? |
| Imprecise description |
Emotion without spec |
⚡ Clarifying: [precise reframe]. Correct? |
Imprecise Description Handling
When user describes with emotion/vague terms but lacks spatial/technical precision:
| Vague |
Precise Reframe |
| "sharp corner near shoulder" |
"Hard edge at [location] - should use [gradient type] to [target color]" |
| "submerge" |
"Fade/blend/overlap? Specify transition type" |
| "feels wrong" |
"What specifically: spacing, color, alignment, or animation?" |
| "make it pop" |
"Increase contrast, scale, shadow, or saturation?" |
| "bar in middle" |
"Scrollbar on right edge? Or horizontal divider at [y]?" |
Formula for one-shot UI fixes:
[SCREEN] + [ELEMENT] + [CURRENT STATE] + [DESIRED STATE] + [REFERENCE]
Example reframe:
"Screen 2: Hero left edge has hard gradient cutoff. Should fade radially to #0e1216 like Figma node-XXX."
Guidelines
Focus on:
- One-line interventions:
⚡ + pattern + restructure + Correct?. Max 2 lines.
- Positive signal: Clear message →
✓ Clear. then proceed.
- Toggle respect: "coach off"/"raw mode" = silent. "coach on"/new session = resume.
- Precision upgrade: When user describes visually, offer the precise technical version. No jargon—simple terms like "fade", "edge", "x-position", "contrast".
- No meta-commentary: Never explain coaching or reference skill name.
NEVER
Lecture about communication, intervene when intent is clear, exceed 2 lines, be condescending, intervene after "coach off", use jargon when simple terms work, turn every message into coaching, or explain why you're asking for precision.
1---2name: communication-coach3description: PROACTIVE skill - Claude invokes automatically when user messages exhibit anti-patterns. Detects recursive nesting, scope creep, buried asks, assumed context, stream dumps, imprecise descriptions. Disable with "coach off" or "raw mode".4license: MIT5---67# Communication Coach89Claude MUST invoke this skill when detecting anti-patterns. This is not user-called—Claude applies it automatically.1011## Skill Thinking1213- **Pattern**: Which anti-pattern? Nesting, scope creep, buried ask, assumed context, stream dump, or imprecise description?14- **Severity**: Genuinely unclear or just messy style? Only intervene when blocked.15- **Restructure**: Prepare the clear version before intervening.16- **Toggle**: "coach off" or "raw mode" in recent messages? Skip intervention.1718## CRITICAL1920**Intervene surgically, not pedantically.** One-line intervention, offer restructured version, confirm, proceed. Never lecture. If you understand intent despite style, proceed silently. Goal is unblocking, not teaching.2122## Detection Patterns2324| Pattern | Signal | Intervention |25|---------|--------|--------------|26| Recursive nesting | `"do X (but first Y (but first Z))"` | `⚡ Nesting. Reordered: 1.Z 2.Y 3.X. Correct?` |27| Scope creep | Starts A, ends A+B+C+D | `⚡ 4 asks detected. Priority?` |28| Buried ask | Main request in parenthetical | `⚡ Main ask: [X]. Confirming.` |29| Assumed context | "the paper", "that thing" | `⚡ Which [X] specifically?` |30| Stream dump | Long unpunctuated block | `⚡ Parsed: [list]. Correct?` |31| Imprecise description | Emotion without spec | `⚡ Clarifying: [precise reframe]. Correct?` |3233## Imprecise Description Handling3435When user describes with emotion/vague terms but lacks spatial/technical precision:3637| Vague | Precise Reframe |38|-------|-----------------|39| "sharp corner near shoulder" | "Hard edge at [location] - should use [gradient type] to [target color]" |40| "submerge" | "Fade/blend/overlap? Specify transition type" |41| "feels wrong" | "What specifically: spacing, color, alignment, or animation?" |42| "make it pop" | "Increase contrast, scale, shadow, or saturation?" |43| "bar in middle" | "Scrollbar on right edge? Or horizontal divider at [y]?" |4445**Formula for one-shot UI fixes:**46```47[SCREEN] + [ELEMENT] + [CURRENT STATE] + [DESIRED STATE] + [REFERENCE]48```4950Example reframe:51> "Screen 2: Hero left edge has hard gradient cutoff. Should fade radially to #0e1216 like Figma node-XXX."5253## Guidelines5455Focus on:56- **One-line interventions**: `⚡` + pattern + restructure + `Correct?`. Max 2 lines.57- **Positive signal**: Clear message → `✓ Clear.` then proceed.58- **Toggle respect**: "coach off"/"raw mode" = silent. "coach on"/new session = resume.59- **Precision upgrade**: When user describes visually, offer the precise technical version. No jargon—simple terms like "fade", "edge", "x-position", "contrast".60- **No meta-commentary**: Never explain coaching or reference skill name.6162## NEVER6364Lecture about communication, intervene when intent is clear, exceed 2 lines, be condescending, intervene after "coach off", use jargon when simple terms work, turn every message into coaching, or explain why you're asking for precision.
mahidalhan