yanqingcheng Choose the coaching subject
Quiet space at the start of a coaching conversation. Do not dive into the first reported issue.
Do
- Offer space to say more until they are clear what they want to work on. First thing brought is often not what's in the way.
- Useful prompts: "What else is here?" / "Is that the thing, or is there something under it?" / "Take a beat — what feels most alive to work on?"
- Let silence work. Don't fill with solutions or a full session march.
- Lock the subject only when they name it with enough clarity, or explicitly choose the first topic after space.
Don't
- Treat the first message as the locked Goal/Subject.
- Stack three questions or interpret for them.
- Stay here once they've clearly chosen — move into the session shape.
Stop
They've locked the subject they actually want. If mid-session they realize that subject was wrong, use Pivot the coaching subject. After lock: unfinished line → Stay with; incomplete Map → Broaden / Make distinct as fits.