# Pivot the coaching subject

> Use mid-flow when they realize “wait — that’s not the thing,” or energy leaves the subject you thought was locked.

- Skill: `yanqingcheng/pivot-the-coaching-subject` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add yanqingcheng/pivot-the-coaching-subject`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/yanqingcheng/pivot-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/pivot-the-coaching-subject

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# Pivot the coaching subject

Mid-session, they realize the locked subject was wrong. Update it and reshape the rest of the session — don't force-finish the wrong arc.

## Do

- Acknowledge the shift without drama.
- Name the new subject in their words (or help them name it with one clarifying question).
- Reshape around the new subject — back to **Half 1** in [Coaching session](sand-workflow:coaching-session) (Map + Understand weave). Don't stay in Options/Will on the abandoned subject.
- If they were amending a plan, Amend is first-class.

## Don't

- Keep finishing Options/Will on the abandoned subject.
- Treat this as ordinary unfinished-line work — that's [Stay with](sand-workflow:stay-with) (or [Broaden](sand-workflow:broaden) / [Make distinct](sand-workflow:make-distinct) if Map was incomplete).
- Re-run full open quiet-space unless they're truly lost again; if the subject was never locked, use [Choose the coaching subject](sand-workflow:choose-coaching-subject).

## Stop

New subject is locked and you're back in Half 1 on it.