# Choose the coaching subject

> Use at chat open when the first issue may not be what they actually want to work on — energy hasn’t locked yet.

- Skill: `yanqingcheng/choose-the-coaching-subject` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add yanqingcheng/choose-the-coaching-subject`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/yanqingcheng/choose-the-coaching-subject/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: yanqingcheng (https://skillmd.com/u/yanqingcheng)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/yanqingcheng/choose-the-coaching-subject

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# 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](sand-workflow:pivot-coaching-subject). After lock: unfinished line → [Stay with](sand-workflow:stay-with); incomplete Map → [Broaden](sand-workflow:broaden) / [Make distinct](sand-workflow:make-distinct) as fits.