Coach Anyone From Stuck to Action

Build a reusable coaching protocol using AI simulation and Energy Leadership.

Introduction

30 Second Summary

You know that person in your life who keeps getting stuck? You give them advice. They nod. Nothing changes. The problem is not that your advice is bad. The problem is that advice-giving is the wrong tool.

In this project, you will learn and practice a professional coaching framework used by organizations like Boeing and IKEA. You will conduct a live 30-minute coaching session, get scored on it, and build a reusable protocol that works in any conversation where someone is stuck.

What You'll Build

A complete coaching skills system in Obsidian powered by Claude Code and Claude Desktop App, containing a scored coaching session, energy assessments, and a personal 1-page coaching protocol.

By the end of this project, you'll have:

  • A Self-ELI Energy Scorecard revealing your default energy patterns under normal conditions and under stress.
  • A scored 30-minute coaching session with line-by-line feedback on ICF Core Competencies and every instance of advice-giving flagged.
  • A reusable Personal Shift Protocol (1-page framework) you can deploy in any conversation, any culture, any language.
  • A 7-day transfer system with 3 named real conversations calendared and daily Energy Weather checks.
  • Secret Mission: Deploy your protocol on a real person within 48 hours and document the energy shift.

Are there any prerequisites?

You need an active Claude Max subscription (for Claude Desktop App access) and a Windows machine with PowerShell. No prior coaching experience is required. This project teaches you the skill from scratch through live practice.

Install Your Tools

Your coaching simulation needs two tools working together. Claude Code runs in the terminal to create and manage files in your vault. Claude Desktop App hosts the live coaching conversation where you will practice with Marcus.

In this step, you will install Claude Code, set up Obsidian as your local vault, and connect the two so Claude Code can read and write files directly in your coaching workspace.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Install Claude Code CLI on Windows.
  • Create an Obsidian vault called shift-protocol.
  • Start a Claude Code session inside your vault directory.
Install Claude Code on Windows

Claude Code is a terminal-based AI assistant that can read, write, and manage files directly on your machine. You will use it to create all the markdown artifacts in your coaching vault.

  • Press the Windows key to open your search bar.
  • Type PowerShell, then right-click Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator.
  • If a User Account Control prompt appears, click Yes to allow it.
  • Install Claude Code by running this command:
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

What does this command do?

This downloads and executes the official Claude Code installer script from Anthropic. The binary installs to C:\Users\YourUsername\.local\bin\claude.exe.

  • Wait for the installation to complete. You should see a success message in the terminal.
  • Close this PowerShell window completely.
  • Open a new regular PowerShell window (no administrator needed this time). Press the Windows key, type PowerShell, and press Enter.
  • Verify the installation by running:
claude --version

✔️ I see a version number

Claude Code is installed and ready. Next you will sign in to connect it to your Anthropic account.

ⓧ Command not found

This usually means the new PowerShell window did not pick up the updated PATH.

  • Make sure you fully closed the old administrator PowerShell window and opened a brand-new one.
  • If that does not work, try restarting your computer and opening a fresh PowerShell window.
  • Re-run the install command in an administrator PowerShell window if you still see the error.

Now you need to authenticate Claude Code with your Anthropic account. This is the same account tied to your Claude Max subscription.

  • Sign in to Claude Code by running:
claude auth login

What happens next?

This command opens your default web browser to an Anthropic sign-in page. Sign in with the same account you use for Claude Desktop App. Once you authorize, return to your PowerShell window. You should see a confirmation message.

Browser not opening?

If your browser does not open automatically, check the terminal output for a URL you can copy and paste into your browser manually.

Make sure you are using the same Anthropic account that has your Max subscription. Help me troubleshoot Claude Code authentication on Windows.

Install Obsidian and create your vault

Obsidian is a free, local-first markdown editor. Your coaching session transcripts, scorecards, and protocols will all live as .md files inside an Obsidian vault on your machine.

Why Obsidian instead of Notion or plain files?

Obsidian stores everything locally. There is no cloud dependency, no subscription fee, and no privacy concerns about sensitive coaching content.

Claude Code can read and write .md files directly in the vault directory. The two tools work together without any extra configuration.

  • Open your browser and go to obsidian.md.
  • Click Get Obsidian for free to download the Windows installer.
  • Run the downloaded installer and follow the prompts to complete installation.
  • Press the Windows key, type Obsidian, and press Enter to open it.

When Obsidian opens for the first time, it asks you to create or open a vault. A vault is just a folder on your computer where Obsidian stores all its notes.

  • Click Create new vault.
  • In the Vault name field, type shift-protocol.
  • For the location, choose your Documents folder (e.g., C:\Users\YourName\Documents). This creates a folder at C:\Users\YourName\Documents\shift-protocol.
  • Click Create.

Obsidian opens your new vault. You should see an empty workspace with a left sidebar showing no files yet.

Remember your vault path

Note the full path where you created your vault. You will need it in the next substep to point Claude Code at the same folder.

Don't see the Create new vault option?

If Obsidian opens with a previous vault, click the vault icon (bottom-left corner of the sidebar) to return to the vault selector screen. From there you can click Create new vault.

Help me create a new vault in Obsidian.

Connect Claude Code to your vault

Claude Code operates on whatever directory you launch it from. By starting it inside your vault folder, it can create and edit files that instantly appear in Obsidian.

  • Open a new PowerShell window. Press the Windows key, type PowerShell, and press Enter.
  • Navigate to your vault directory by running:
cd [[VAULT_PATH="C:\Users\YourName\Documents\shift-protocol"]]

What path do I use?

Use the exact path where you created your vault in the previous substep. If you chose your Documents folder and named the vault shift-protocol, the path is C:\Users\YourName\Documents\shift-protocol (replace YourName with your actual Windows username).

  • Start a Claude Code interactive session by running:
claude

You should see the Claude Code prompt appear in your terminal, ready to accept instructions.

What does starting Claude Code here do?

Claude Code can now read and write files in your shift-protocol vault. Any file it creates will appear immediately in your Obsidian sidebar.

Seeing a permission or authentication error?

Make sure you completed the claude auth login step earlier and saw a success confirmation. If not, run claude auth login again in this terminal before running claude.

Help me troubleshoot Claude Code not starting in my vault.

Your workspace is ready. Claude Code is running inside your vault, and Obsidian is watching the same folder. Next up, you will use Claude Code to scaffold the entire vault structure with templates, folders, and the coaching simulation prompt.

Scaffold Your Shift Protocol Vault

Your Obsidian vault is currently empty. Before you can coach anyone, you need a structured system that tells Claude Code how to organize your coaching artifacts, where to store session transcripts, and what rules to follow when processing your data.

In this step, you will use Claude Code to build your entire vault infrastructure in minutes. This includes a rules file that governs how the vault works, template files for every coaching artifact, and the full simulation prompt you will use in Claude Desktop App.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Create the CLAUDE.md rules file that defines your vault structure and conventions.
  • Generate the full folder tree and template files for assessments, sessions, protocols, and transfer.
  • Generate the Master Coaching Simulation prompt containing all three personas.
Create the CLAUDE.md rules file

A CLAUDE.md file is a special markdown file at the root of any project directory. Claude Code reads it at the start of every session to understand the project's rules, structure, and conventions.

  • In your Claude Code interactive session (the PowerShell terminal running inside your vault directory), paste the following prompt:
Create a file called CLAUDE.md at the root of this directory with the following content:

# Shift Protocol Vault Rules

## Purpose
This vault contains the artifacts from The Shift Protocol: a coaching skills system built on the Energy Leadership framework (Schneider/iPEC) and ICF Core Competencies.

## Structure
- assessments/ - Self-ELI scorecards and re-tests
- sessions/ - Full coaching session transcripts
- protocols/ - Reusable frameworks (Personal Shift Protocol, Powerful Question Bank, Anti-Pattern Mirror)
- transfer/ - 7-day activation system (3 Named Conversations, daily Energy Weather, Before/After evidence)
- transfer/daily/ - One note per day for 7 days
- templates/ - Blank templates for future sessions
- _prompts/ - Simulation prompts for Claude Desktop App
- diagrams/ - Mermaid energy ladder visualizations

## Conventions
- File names: kebab-case (e.g., self-eli-scorecard.md)
- Dates: YYYY-MM-DD prefix for daily notes
- Energy levels: always written as "Level N" (e.g., Level 2, Level 5)
- Frontmatter: every file has YAML frontmatter with date, type, and status fields
- Links: use [[wikilinks]] for cross-references within the vault

## Rules
- Never delete files in sessions/ (these are evidence artifacts)
- Never modify completed scorecards in assessments/ (append new scores only)
- Daily notes in transfer/daily/ are append-only after their date passes
- The Personal Shift Protocol in protocols/ is the single source of truth for the method

## Slash Commands Available
- /process-session - Extract questions, anti-patterns, and generate protocol from a session transcript
- /energy-weather - Generate today's Energy Weather Check note
- /new-scenario - Generate a new Marcus scenario for re-running the simulation

What does CLAUDE.md do?

This file is the brain of your vault. Every time Claude Code starts a session in this directory, it reads CLAUDE.md first to understand what it can and cannot do.

The Structure section defines where every artifact lives. The Conventions section enforces consistency (kebab-case names, YAML frontmatter, energy level formatting). The Rules section protects your evidence artifacts from accidental deletion or modification.

  • Switch to Obsidian and look at the left sidebar.
  • You should see CLAUDE.md listed as a file at the root of your vault.
  • Click on it to open it and confirm the content matches what you pasted.

Don't see CLAUDE.md in Obsidian?

Make sure your Claude Code session is running inside your vault directory. Check that your PowerShell prompt shows the shift-protocol folder path. If Claude Code is running in a different directory, the file was created in the wrong location.

Also check that Obsidian's file explorer is showing hidden files. CLAUDE.md should appear at the top level of your vault.

Help me troubleshoot why CLAUDE.md isn't appearing in my Obsidian vault

Generate the full vault structure

Now that Claude Code knows the vault rules, it can create the entire folder tree and populate it with template files. These templates will hold your assessment scores, daily check-ins, and the reusable coaching protocol you build during the live session.

  • In your Claude Code session, paste the following prompt to create all folders, templates, and slash commands:
Read the CLAUDE.md file you just created. Based on its Structure section, create the full folder tree:
- assessments/
- sessions/
- protocols/
- transfer/
- transfer/daily/
- templates/
- _prompts/
- diagrams/
- .claude/commands/

Then create the following template files with the exact content I provide below.

---

File: templates/self-eli-scorecard.md

---
date: {{date}}
type: assessment
status: complete
---

# Self-ELI Energy Scorecard

## Disclaimer
This is a simplified 7-item learning translation of the ELI concept. It is NOT iPEC's proprietary 84-item validated assessment administered by certified ELI Master Practitioners. Use this for directional self-awareness, not clinical diagnosis.

## Scores

**ARL (Average Resonating Level - Normal Conditions):** _/7

**ARS (Average Resonating Level - Under Stress):** _/7

## Level Breakdown (Normal)

| Level | Percentage | Notes |
|-------|-----------|-------|
| Level 1 - Victim | _% | |
| Level 2 - Conflict | _% | |
| Level 3 - Responsibility | _% | |
| Level 4 - Concern | _% | |
| Level 5 - Reconciliation | _% | |
| Level 6 - Synthesis | _% | |
| Level 7 - Presence | _% | |

## Level Breakdown (Under Stress)

| Level | Percentage | Notes |
|-------|-----------|-------|
| Level 1 - Victim | _% | |
| Level 2 - Conflict | _% | |
| Level 3 - Responsibility | _% | |
| Level 4 - Concern | _% | |
| Level 5 - Reconciliation | _% | |
| Level 6 - Synthesis | _% | |
| Level 7 - Presence | _% | |

## Key Insight
(What did you learn about your default energy pattern?)

## 30-Day Re-Test Date: {{date+30}}

---

File: templates/daily-energy-weather.md

---
date: {{date}}
type: daily-check
status: pending
---

# Energy Weather Check - {{date}}

## 30-Second Pulse (answer in one sentence each)

**What energy level am I operating from right now?** Level _:

**What triggered that level today?**

**One powerful question I will ask someone today:**
(Pull from your Powerful Question Bank or use this default: "What would be possible if that weren't true?")

## Evening Reflection (optional, 30 seconds)

**Did I ask the question?** Yes / No

**What happened?**

---

File: templates/personal-shift-protocol.md

---
date: {{date}}
type: protocol
status: draft
---

# Personal Shift Protocol (1-Page Reusable Framework)

## When To Use
Any conversation where someone is stuck and your instinct is to give advice.

## Pre-Conversation (60 seconds)
1. One breath cycle (4-count in, 7-count hold, 8-count out)
2. Set intention: "I will ask, not tell."
3. Predict their energy level before they speak.

## The 4-Step Shift Arc

### 1. FOUNDATION (2-3 minutes)
**Goal**: Trust + Agenda
**Ask**: "What would make this conversation valuable for you right now?"
**Do**: Listen without planning your response. Mirror their words back.
**Energy marker**: Match their pace. Do not rush to "fix."

### 2. AWARENESS (8-10 minutes)
**Goal**: Surface the invisible belief
**Ask**: (Pull from your Powerful Question Bank)
**Do**: Notice when they say "I can't" (Level 1) or "They should" (Level 2) or "It's fine" (Level 3). These are energy markers.
**Energy marker**: You should feel tension/curiosity, not certainty.

### 3. SHIFT (5-8 minutes)
**Goal**: Name the frame without judgment, invite a higher view
**Ask**: "If [the frustration/fear] weren't running the show, what else might be true here?"
**Do**: Hold silence after the question. Do NOT fill it. Let them arrive.
**Energy marker**: You will feel the shift in their voice/posture before they name it.

### 4. ACTION (3-5 minutes)
**Goal**: One step from the new energy level
**Ask**: "From this place you're in now, what's one thing you want to do?"
**Do**: Check commitment: "1-10, how likely are you to do that?" If below 7, explore what would raise it.
**Energy marker**: Their action should feel lighter than the problem, not heavier.

## Post-Conversation (60 seconds)
- What energy level did they start at? End at?
- What was your best question?
- What advice did you almost give? (Write it down. That is your growth edge.)

## My Top 5 Powerful Questions (from session with Marcus)
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 

---

File: templates/before-after-evidence.md

---
date: {{date}}
type: evidence
status: pending
---

# Before/After Evidence Capture

## BEFORE (Recent conversation where you gave advice)

**Who**: 
**Topic**: 
**Date**: 
**What advice did you give?**: 
**What happened after?** (Did they act on it?): 
**Energy level you now recognize they were at**: Level _

## AFTER (Same type of conversation, using the Shift Protocol)

**Who**: 
**Topic**: 
**Date**: 
**What powerful questions did you ask?**:
1. 
2. 
3. 

**What energy level did they start at?** Level _
**What energy level did they end at?** Level _
**Did they commit to an action?** Yes / No
**What was it?**: 
**Did they follow through? (check in 48 hours)**: 

## The Delta
**What was different about the second conversation?**:
**What did you NOT say that you normally would have?**:

---

File: .claude/commands/process-session.md

Process the most recent coaching session transcript in sessions/ folder.

Do the following:
1. Read the session transcript file
2. Extract every question the learner asked. Classify each as:
   - Powerful Question (opens possibility, invites reflection)
   - Advice/Solution (closes possibility, tells the coachee what to do)
   - Clarifying Question (neutral, gathers information)
3. Write the powerful questions to protocols/powerful-question-bank.md
4. Create protocols/anti-pattern-mirror.md with two columns:
   - Column 1: What the learner said (advice/solution moments)
   - Column 2: A powerful question they could have asked instead
5. Generate protocols/personal-shift-protocol.md using the template in templates/ but populated with the learner's actual top questions from this session
6. Create diagrams/energy-ladder.md with a Mermaid diagram showing:
   - The learner's ARL and ARS positions (from assessments/self-eli-scorecard.md)
   - Marcus's starting energy level and ending energy level
   - The 4-Step Shift Arc overlaid on the ladder
7. Print a summary of what was created

---

File: .claude/commands/new-scenario.md

Generate a new coaching scenario for a re-run of The Shift Protocol simulation.

Create a new character (not Marcus) with:
- A name, age, and professional context
- A realistic workplace/life challenge
- A clear starting energy level (Level 1, 2, or 3)
- An underlying belief or assumption driving the stuckness
- Realistic behavioral responses to powerful questions vs advice

Scenario categories to rotate through:
1. Workplace: passed over, restructured out, toxic team, impostor syndrome
2. Transition: career change, new role, returning from leave, retirement fear
3. Relationship: conflict with manager, peer rivalry, mentee struggling
4. Identity: values misalignment, burnout, purpose crisis
5. Growth: plateau, skill gap, feedback resistance

Save the new scenario to _prompts/scenario-[name].md formatted as a drop-in replacement for Marcus's section in the simulation prompt.

Also update the simulation-prompt.md with the new scenario (keep the original Marcus scenario commented out for reference).

What are all these files for?

  • templates/self-eli-scorecard.md holds your energy level baseline scores (ARL for normal conditions, ARS for under stress).
  • templates/daily-energy-weather.md is a 30-second daily check-in you will use for 7 days after your coaching session.
  • templates/personal-shift-protocol.md is the 1-page reusable framework you will populate with your own powerful questions after coaching Marcus.
  • templates/before-after-evidence.md captures the difference between your old advice-giving approach and your new coaching approach.
  • The slash commands in .claude/commands/ let you type /process-session or /new-scenario in future Claude Code sessions to automate post-session analysis.
  • Switch to Obsidian and check your left sidebar.
  • You should see the following folders: assessments, sessions, protocols, transfer, templates, _prompts, diagrams.
  • Expand the templates folder. You should see 4 files: self-eli-scorecard.md, daily-energy-weather.md, personal-shift-protocol.md, and before-after-evidence.md.
  • Click on self-eli-scorecard.md to open it. Confirm it has the YAML frontmatter at the top (the --- section with date, type, and status fields) and the 7-level energy tables.

Missing folders or files?

Claude Code sometimes splits long prompts into multiple operations. If some folders or files are missing, ask Claude Code to check what is missing. You can type: "List all files and folders you have created so far. Compare against the CLAUDE.md structure section and create anything that is missing."

If Obsidian is not refreshing, click away from the vault and click back. Obsidian watches for file changes but occasionally needs a moment to pick up new files.

Help me troubleshoot missing files in my Obsidian vault after using Claude Code

Generate the Master Coaching Simulation prompt

The simulation prompt is the most important artifact in your vault. It contains three AI personas that will guide your coaching session: the Master Coach Mentor who teaches you, Marcus the coachee who you will coach, and the ICF/iPEC Standards Gate that scores your performance.

This single prompt also contains the complete 4-Step Shift Arc methodology, the 7-Level Energy Leadership framework, and the scoring rubric mapped to ICF Core Competencies. You will paste this entire prompt into Claude Desktop App when you begin your live coaching session.

  • In your Claude Code session, paste the following prompt to create the simulation file:
Create a file called _prompts/simulation-prompt.md with the following exact content:

# The Shift Protocol: Coaching Simulation

You are running a 90-minute coaching skills simulation with 3 personas. Activate each persona ONLY when specified. Never blend personas.

## Personas

### 1. Master Coach Mentor (Active: Steps 1-2, Step 4 scoring)
**Voice**: Warm, present, precise about energy levels. Never solution-gives. Asks powerful questions. References the 7-Level Energy framework naturally. Treats the learner as creative, resourceful, and whole.
**Role**: Teaches the 4-Step Shift Arc via demonstration. Guides Self-ELI. Provides post-session scoring and feedback.
**Boundaries**: Never gives the learner advice about their life. Models the coaching stance at all times.

### 2. Marcus - The Coachee (Active: Step 3 ONLY)
**Voice**: Professional, articulate, frustrated but not dramatic. A mid-career professional who presents real workplace stuckness. Reports his energy level honestly when asked.
**Scenario**: Marcus is a senior project manager (38, 12 years experience). Six months ago, his company restructured. His new VP dismissed his strategic proposal in a public meeting, saying "we need execution, not ideas." Since then, Marcus has been doing the minimum, feeling invisible, and considering quitting. He tells himself "hard work doesn't matter here anymore." He oscillates between Level 1 (victim: "nothing I do matters") and Level 2 (anger: "they don't deserve my best work").
**Behavior rules**:
- Start at Level 2 energy (Conflict/Frustration)
- Respond authentically to the learner's coaching quality
- If learner gives advice: become slightly more defensive (realistic coachee response to unsolicited advice)
- If learner asks powerful questions: gradually open up, explore deeper
- Energy shift is EARNED, not guaranteed. Shift only if the learner actually facilitates awareness + reframe
- When asked to report energy level, give honest number and brief explanation
- Maximum realistic shift in 30 min: 1-2 levels (e.g., Level 2 to Level 4)

### 3. ICF/iPEC Standards Gate (Active: Step 4 scoring, AND real-time interruption during Step 3)
**Voice**: Direct, technical, never sycophantic. Scores against named ICF competency markers.
**Role**: Monitors the live session silently. Interrupts ONLY if the learner gives direct advice/solutions (flags it immediately, explains why, resets). After session: scores against ICF #4, #5, #6, #7, #8 (0-2 each).
**Interruption format**: "[Standards Gate] Pause. You just gave advice: '[quote]'. In Core Energy Coaching, this closes possibility. What powerful question could you ask instead?"

## The 4-Step Shift Arc (Evidence-Based Coaching Process)

Grounded in: Grant (2012) Integrated Goal-Focused Coaching + Whitmore GROW + iPEC Core Energy Coaching + ICF Core Competencies (2025)

### Step 1: FOUNDATION (ICF #4: Cultivates Trust and Safety)
- Co-create the session agenda
- Establish what the coachee wants from this conversation
- Create psychological safety through presence and non-judgment
- Powerful question examples: "What would make this conversation valuable for you?" / "What do you most want to explore today?"

### Step 2: AWARENESS (ICF #7: Evokes Awareness)
- Surface the underlying belief, assumption, or energy pattern
- Use powerful questions to help coachee see what they cannot currently see
- Identify which energy level they are operating from
- Powerful question examples: "What assumption are you making about this situation?" / "When you say [X], what do you believe that means about you?"

### Step 3: SHIFT (ICF #5: Maintains Presence + iPEC Energy Reframe)
- Name the catabolic frame WITHOUT judgment ("I notice you're describing this from a place of frustration - Level 2 energy")
- Invite the coachee to see the same situation from a higher energy level
- Do NOT push the shift. Hold space. Let them arrive.
- Powerful question examples: "If you weren't frustrated, what else might be true about this situation?" / "From a place of genuine concern for your growth [Level 4], what do you see?"

### Step 4: ACTION (ICF #8: Facilitates Client Growth)
- From the new energy level, co-create ONE concrete next step
- The action must come from the coachee, not from you
- Check commitment level (1-10 scale)
- Powerful question examples: "From this place you're in now, what's one thing you want to do this week?" / "What would make you feel proud when you look back on this?"

## 7-Level Energy Framework (Schneider/iPEC)

- Level 1: Victim. "I can't." Apathy, fear, lack of choice. Catabolic.
- Level 2: Conflict. "I fight." Anger, frustration, blame. Catabolic.
- Level 3: Responsibility. "I cope." Rationalizing, fine, tolerating. Transitional.
- Level 4: Concern. "I care." Compassion, service, heart-led. Anabolic.
- Level 5: Reconciliation. "I understand." Win-win, no judgment, acceptance. Anabolic.
- Level 6: Synthesis. "I create." Intuition, vision, flow state. Anabolic.
- Level 7: Presence. "I am." Non-judgment, oneness, pure awareness. Anabolic.

Catabolic (Levels 1-2): Draining, destructive, contracting energy.
Transitional (Level 3): Neither fully draining nor fully constructive.
Anabolic (Levels 4-7): Constructive, creative, expanding energy.

## Self-ELI Assessment (7-Item Simplified Version)

NOTE: This is a learning-translation of the ELI concept, NOT iPEC's proprietary 84-item validated assessment. It produces a directional signal for self-awareness, not a clinical score.

For each scenario, the learner chooses their most likely response. Master Coach assigns energy levels to responses and calculates approximate ARL (normal conditions) and ARS (stress conditions).

## Session Flow

1. Master Coach activates. Greets learner. Explains the 90-minute arc.
2. Self-ELI: Master Coach administers 7 scenarios. Records ARL + ARS.
3. Method Demo: Master Coach demonstrates all 4 steps with a sample dialogue.
4. Practice Round: 5 "stuck statements" - learner practices powerful questions vs advice.
5. Centering: 60-second breath practice. Learner predicts Marcus's starting energy level.
6. HANDOFF: Master Coach says "Marcus is here. You are the coach now. Begin."
7. Marcus enters. 30-minute live session. Standards Gate monitors.
8. Session close: learner asks Marcus to report energy level shift.
9. Standards Gate scores ICF competencies (0-2 each, max 10).
10. Master Coach scores energy-coaching markers and provides narrative feedback.
11. Master Coach provides Anti-Pattern summary (every advice moment flagged).
12. Session ends with Master Coach inviting the learner to capture artifacts.

## Scoring Rubric

### ICF Core Competencies (Standards Gate scores these)
- #4 Cultivates Trust and Safety (0-2): Did the learner create a safe space? Did Marcus feel heard?
- #5 Maintains Presence (0-2): Was the learner fully present? Did they work with silence? Did they stay in not-knowing?
- #6 Listens Actively (0-2): Did the learner reflect back? Notice what was unsaid? Track energy shifts?
- #7 Evokes Awareness (0-2): Did powerful questions surface new insight for Marcus? Did Marcus see something new?
- #8 Facilitates Client Growth (0-2): Did the action come from Marcus (not the learner)? Was commitment checked?

### Passing Criteria
- Minimum pass: 8/10 total + Marcus reports at least 1 full energy-level shift
- Strong pass: 9/10+ Marcus reports 2-level shift + ICF #5, #6, #7 all scored 2/2
- If below 8/10: Master Coach identifies the specific competency to practice and invites a re-run

## Cultural Awareness Note
This protocol works across cultures because it operates through questions, not directives. In high power-distance cultures, adjust Foundation step: spend more time establishing the coach's role as equal partner, not authority. In collectivist cultures, adjust Awareness step: explore "what does your family/team need?" alongside individual needs. The energy levels are universal. Their expression is cultural.

What are the three personas?

  • Master Coach Mentor teaches you the method, runs the Self-ELI assessment, demonstrates the 4-Step Shift Arc, and scores your session afterward.
  • Marcus the Coachee is a senior project manager stuck at Level 2 energy (anger and frustration) after being publicly dismissed by his new VP. His energy shift is earned, not guaranteed.
  • ICF/iPEC Standards Gate monitors silently during your live session and interrupts the moment you give advice instead of asking a powerful question. After the session, it scores you on 5 ICF competencies.
  • Switch to Obsidian and expand the _prompts folder in the left sidebar.
  • You should see simulation-prompt.md listed inside it.
  • Click on the file to open it. Scroll through and confirm it contains all three persona definitions, the 4-Step Shift Arc, the 7-Level Energy Framework, and the Scoring Rubric section at the bottom.

Simulation prompt looks incomplete or truncated?

Very long prompts can occasionally get cut off by Claude Code if it hits a token limit on a single response. Check whether the file ends with the "Cultural Awareness Note" section. If it ends earlier, tell Claude Code: "The simulation-prompt.md file is incomplete. It should end with a Cultural Awareness Note section. Please continue writing the file from where it stopped."

My simulation prompt file looks incomplete after Claude Code created it

✔️ Awesome, I've got everything!

Great. Double check you have all folders and files visible in Obsidian before moving on. Your vault should feel like a well-organized filing cabinet, ready to receive your coaching artifacts.

ⓧ I'd like to double check the full vault structure

Here is the complete list of files and folders your vault should contain at this point:

shift-protocol/
├── CLAUDE.md
├── _prompts/
│   └── simulation-prompt.md
├── .claude/
│   └── commands/
│       ├── process-session.md
│       └── new-scenario.md
├── assessments/
├── diagrams/
├── protocols/
├── sessions/
├── templates/
│   ├── before-after-evidence.md
│   ├── daily-energy-weather.md
│   ├── personal-shift-protocol.md
│   └── self-eli-scorecard.md
└── transfer/
    └── daily/

If anything is missing, ask Claude Code to create the specific missing file or folder. For example: "Create the folder assessments/ if it does not already exist."

Your vault infrastructure is complete. You have rules, templates, slash commands, and the full simulation prompt ready to go. Next up, you will open Claude Desktop App, paste the simulation prompt, and begin your Self-ELI Energy Assessment to discover your personal energy baseline.

Complete Your Self-ELI Energy Assessment

Your vault is scaffolded and ready. Now it is time to use it for something real: discovering your default energy patterns.

Before you can coach anyone else through a shift, you need to know where you default to under normal conditions and under stress. The Self-ELI assessment gives you that baseline. In this step, you will activate the Master Coach Mentor persona in Claude Desktop App and complete a 7-item energy assessment that reveals your Average Resonating Level.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Launch the coaching simulation in Claude Desktop App.
  • Complete a 7-item Self-ELI energy assessment with the Master Coach Mentor.
  • Record your ARL and ARS scores in your Obsidian vault.
Open Claude Desktop App and paste the simulation prompt

The simulation prompt you generated in your vault contains three AI personas: Master Coach Mentor, Marcus the Coachee, and the ICF/iPEC Standards Gate. Pasting it into Claude Desktop App activates the Master Coach Mentor first. This persona will guide you through the entire protocol.

  • Open your Obsidian vault and navigate to the _prompts folder in the left sidebar.
  • Click on simulation-prompt.md to open it.
  • Select all the content in the file by pressing Cmd+A (macOS) or Ctrl+A (Windows), then copy it with Cmd+C or Ctrl+C.
  • Open Claude Desktop App.
  • Start a new conversation by clicking the New Chat button in the top left.
  • Select the Opus model from the model selector dropdown. Opus provides the deepest persona consistency for extended conversations.
  • Paste the entire simulation prompt into the message box and press Enter to send it.

The Master Coach Mentor persona activates and greets you. You should see a warm, present introduction that references the Energy Leadership framework and invites you to begin your Self-ELI assessment.

Keep both apps open side by side

You will switch between Claude Desktop App (for the live conversation) and Obsidian (for recording your results) throughout this step. Arrange them side by side so you can reference your scores easily.

Master Coach not activating?

If Claude responds generically instead of as the Master Coach Mentor persona, make sure you copied the entire contents of simulation-prompt.md including the opening heading. The prompt is long. A partial paste will not activate the personas correctly.

help me troubleshoot why the Master Coach persona isn't activating in Claude Desktop

Complete the 7-item Self-ELI assessment

The ELI (Energy Leadership Index) is a proprietary 70-item assessment that can only be administered by a certified iPEC Master Practitioner. What you are about to complete is a simplified 7-item learning translation. It gives you a directional signal for self-awareness, not a clinical score.

  • Follow the Master Coach's lead as they present 7 scenario-based questions.
  • For each scenario, choose the response that matches your most likely reaction. Answer honestly.
  • The first few scenarios measure your response under normal conditions (this produces your ARL score).
  • The remaining scenarios measure your response under stress (this produces your ARS score).

What is ARL and ARS?

ARL stands for Average Resonating Level. This is where your energy defaults under normal, everyday conditions. ARS is your Average Resonating Level under Stress. Most people drop 1-2 energy levels under pressure.

Catabolic energy (Levels 1-2) is draining and contracting. Level 3 is transitional. Anabolic energy (Levels 4-7) is constructive and expanding. Defaulting to catabolic energy under stress is universal, not a character flaw. The assessment reveals your pattern so you can work with it.

Take your time with each scenario. There are no wrong answers. Master Coach will explain your results in context after you finish all 7 items.

Why is this not the real ELI?

iPEC's proprietary ELI assessment costs $9,995 as part of their Coach Training Program and requires a certified Master Practitioner to administer. The full assessment uses 70 items measured on a 5-point scale.

Your 7-item version produces a directional signal that helps you understand your energy patterns for the purpose of this protocol. If you want clinical-grade results, seek out a certified iPEC coach.

Record your scores in the vault

Once Master Coach delivers your ARL and ARS scores along with your level-by-level breakdown, you need to capture these in your vault. This becomes your baseline for measuring growth at 30 days.

  • In your Obsidian vault, navigate to the templates folder and open self-eli-scorecard.md.
  • Copy the entire template content.
  • Create a new file in the assessments folder called self-eli-scorecard.md and paste the template contents into it.
  • Replace {{date}} in the frontmatter with today's date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
  • Fill in your ARL score (your number out of 7 for normal conditions).
  • Fill in your ARS score (your number out of 7 for stress conditions).
  • Fill in the Level Breakdown tables (both Normal and Under Stress) with the percentage values Master Coach provided.
  • Write your key insight in the Key Insight section. One or two sentences about what you learned about your default energy pattern.
  • Set your 30-day re-test date by replacing {{date+30}} with a date 30 days from today.
  • Save the file.

Confirm the file is saved by checking that assessments/self-eli-scorecard.md appears in your Obsidian sidebar with your scores filled in.

What do my scores mean?

Your ARL shows your everyday operating energy. Most people who have not done energy work score between 2.5 and 3.5. Your ARS shows where you go under pressure. A gap of 1-2 levels between ARL and ARS is common.

The goal is not to "be at Level 7 all the time." The goal is awareness. Once you see your pattern, you can catch yourself defaulting to catabolic energy in real conversations and choose differently.

Not sure what to write for your key insight?

Ask yourself: "What surprised me about where I go under stress?" or "What pattern do I see between my normal energy and my stress energy?" Write one honest sentence. You can always refine it later.

help me interpret my Self-ELI scores and write a meaningful key insight

You now have your energy baseline captured and saved. Next, Master Coach will demonstrate the full 4-Step Shift Arc and teach you the critical distinction between powerful questions and advice-giving. This is where the real coaching skill begins.

Learn the 4-Step Shift Arc

You know your default energy patterns now. The Self-ELI showed you where you operate under normal conditions and where you drop under stress. That self-awareness is essential, but it is only half the skill.

The other half is the ability to shift someone else's energy through questions alone. In this step, Master Coach demonstrates the exact 4-step process, then puts you through live practice rounds until you can reliably generate powerful questions instead of advice.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Observe Master Coach demonstrate the 4-Step Shift Arc with a sample dialogue.
  • Practice distinguishing powerful questions from advice-giving across 5 rounds.
  • Complete a pre-session centering practice and predict Marcus's starting energy level.
Watch Master Coach demonstrate the full arc

The 4-Step Shift Arc is the backbone of the coaching session you are about to run. Each step maps to a specific ICF Core Competency, which means the arc is not a loose framework. It is a scored, observable skill.

  • In your Claude Desktop App conversation (the same one from the Self-ELI), type this message to Master Coach:
I'm ready to learn the 4-Step Shift Arc. Please demonstrate the full arc with a sample dialogue so I can see how each step works in practice.

Master Coach will walk through a complete sample coaching conversation, pausing at each transition to explain what is happening.

What are the 4 steps?

Foundation (ICF #4 Cultivates Trust): Co-create the session agenda and establish psychological safety. The coachee decides what this conversation is about.

Awareness (ICF #7 Evokes Awareness): Use powerful questions to surface the underlying belief or energy pattern the coachee cannot currently see.

Shift (ICF #5 Maintains Presence): Name the catabolic frame without judgment and invite the coachee to see the situation from a higher energy level. Hold space. Let them arrive.

Action (ICF #8 Facilitates Client Growth): From the new energy level, co-create one concrete next step. The action must come from the coachee, not from you.

  • Read through the full demonstration dialogue Master Coach provides.
  • Pay attention to the transitions between steps. Notice what triggers the move from Foundation to Awareness, from Awareness to Shift, and from Shift to Action.
  • When Master Coach finishes the demonstration, ask any questions you have about the arc before moving to practice.

Focus on the transitions

The individual steps are learnable. What separates skilled coaches from beginners is recognizing when to move between steps. Notice the coachee's language cues that signal readiness for the next step.

Practice powerful questions vs. advice-giving

This is the single most important distinction in coaching. When someone is stuck, your natural instinct is to offer solutions. That instinct closes possibility. A powerful question opens it.

  • Tell Master Coach you are ready for the practice round by typing:
I'm ready to practice. Give me the 5 stuck statements.

Master Coach will present 5 "stuck" statements from a hypothetical coachee, one at a time. For each statement, you respond with whatever comes naturally.

  • For each stuck statement, type your response as if speaking directly to the coachee.
  • Master Coach will immediately classify your response as one of three types: Powerful Question (opens possibility), Advice/Solution (closes possibility), or Clarifying Question (neutral, gathers information).
  • If your response is classified as advice-giving, Master Coach will show you what a powerful question would have sounded like instead.
  • Continue through all 5 statements. Your goal is to generate at least 3 out of 5 powerful questions by the end.

What makes a question powerful?

A powerful question invites the coachee to look inward, challenge an assumption, or see something they could not see before. It starts with "What" or "How" and has no hidden suggestion inside it.

"Have you tried talking to your manager?" sounds like a question but is actually advice wearing a question mark. A powerful question would be: "What would need to be true for you to feel safe raising this?"

Getting mostly advice classifications?

This is completely normal. Most people default to advice-giving because it feels helpful. The practice is working if you can see the difference after Master Coach classifies your response. Ask Master Coach for extra rounds if you want more practice before meeting Marcus.

Ask for more practice rounds

Complete the pre-session energy calibration

Before you meet Marcus, you need to arrive present. A coach who is mentally planning their next question is not coaching. They are performing. The centering practice resets your nervous system so you can actually listen.

  • Tell Master Coach you are ready for the centering practice by typing:
I'm ready for the centering practice before meeting Marcus.
  • Master Coach will guide you through a 60-second breath cycle: breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 7 counts, breathe out for 8 counts.
  • Close your eyes and follow along. This is adapted from Bruce D. Schneider's centering techniques in Appendix B of Energy Leadership.
  • After the centering, Master Coach will ask you to predict Marcus's starting energy level. Type your prediction (a number from 1-7) and a brief reason why.

Why predict before the session?

The gap between your prediction and what Marcus actually reports at the end of the session is your calibration learning signal. Experienced coaches can read energy levels within seconds. Your first prediction is your baseline for this skill.

  • After typing your prediction, Master Coach will confirm you are ready and prepare to hand off the conversation to Marcus.
  • Do not start coaching yet. The handoff happens at the beginning of the next step.

Set one intention

Before Master Coach hands off to Marcus, set one intention for yourself: "I will ask at least 3 powerful questions before offering any suggestion." Type this in the conversation so you have a visible reminder.

You now have the method, the practice, and the presence. Next up, Marcus enters the conversation and you coach for real.

Conduct Your Live Coaching Session with Marcus

Everything you have done so far has been preparation. The Self-ELI showed you your own energy patterns. The demonstration showed you what good coaching looks like. The practice rounds trained your hands to form powerful questions instead of advice.

Now you coach for real. Marcus is a senior project manager who feels invisible after his VP publicly dismissed his strategic proposal. He oscillates between Level 1 ("nothing I do matters") and Level 2 ("they don't deserve my best work"). Your job is to facilitate a shift using only questions. The Standards Gate will interrupt you the moment you slip into advice-giving.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Activate Marcus and begin the live coaching session.
  • Guide Marcus through the 4-Step Shift Arc using powerful questions only.
  • Close the session and capture Marcus's reported energy-level shift.
Marcus enters the conversation

Master Coach has been guiding you through preparation. Now it is time for the handoff. When you tell Master Coach you are ready, it will say "Marcus is here. You are the coach now. Begin." From that point, you are in a live session.

  • In your Claude Desktop App conversation, type something like: "I'm ready to begin coaching Marcus."
  • Master Coach will complete the handoff and Marcus will introduce himself.
  • Read Marcus's opening carefully. Notice the energy behind his words.

What will Marcus say?

Marcus will present at Level 2 energy (Conflict/Frustration). He is a senior project manager whose VP publicly dismissed his strategic proposal six months ago. He has been doing the minimum since, feeling invisible, and considering quitting.

Listen for phrases like "they don't deserve my best work" (Level 2 anger) or "nothing I do matters" (Level 1 victim). These are your energy markers.

The Standards Gate is watching

If you give Marcus direct advice or offer solutions at any point, the Standards Gate persona will interrupt with: "[Standards Gate] Pause. You just gave advice: '[your quote]'. In Core Energy Coaching, this closes possibility. What powerful question could you ask instead?"

This is not a punishment. It is real-time feedback that protects the integrity of your practice. Take the correction, form a question, and continue.

Coach for 30 minutes using the Shift Arc

This is your live session. You have 30 minutes. Each step of the arc has a clear purpose and a time allocation. Trust the structure.

  • Start with Foundation (2-3 minutes). Establish trust and co-create the session agenda. Ask Marcus what would make this conversation valuable for him.
  • Move into Awareness (8-10 minutes). Use powerful questions to surface the underlying belief or assumption driving his stuckness. Listen for what is unsaid.
  • Facilitate the Shift (5-8 minutes). Name the catabolic frame you hear without judgment. Invite Marcus to see the same situation from a higher energy level. Hold silence after your question.
  • Close with Action (3-5 minutes). From Marcus's new energy level, co-create one concrete next step. Check his commitment level on a 1-10 scale.

Keep your timer visible

Set a 30-minute timer on your phone or desktop before you begin. Real coaching sessions have time boundaries. Practicing within the container builds discipline that transfers to real conversations.

What does each arc step sound like?

Foundation: "What would make this conversation valuable for you?" Awareness: "What assumption are you making about this situation?" Shift: "If you weren't frustrated, what else might be true here?" Action: "From this place you're in now, what's one thing you want to do this week?"

These are starting points, not scripts. Let Marcus's responses guide your next question. The best powerful questions emerge from deep listening, not from a list.

Why questions instead of advice?

Advice operates at Level 2-3 energy. It positions you as the expert and the other person as lacking. Powerful questions operate at Level 5+ energy. They assume the other person is creative, resourceful, and whole. They open possibility instead of closing it.

Notice how Marcus responds differently to questions than he would to suggestions. When you ask instead of tell, he does the thinking. The insight becomes his, not yours. That is why it sticks.

Getting interrupted by the Standards Gate?

If you keep triggering Standards Gate interruptions, pause and notice your pattern. Are you jumping to "have you tried..." or "you should..."? These are advice signals. Reframe any sentence that starts with "You could..." or "What if you tried..." into "What have you considered?" or "What feels possible from here?"

Help me understand why my responses keep triggering the Standards Gate and how to form better powerful questions.

Close the session and capture the energy shift

When your 30 minutes are up (or when you sense Marcus has landed on a concrete commitment), it is time to close. The close captures your evidence of impact.

  • Ask Marcus to report his current energy level. Type something like: "Marcus, as we close, I'd like to ask: what energy level do you feel you're at right now, compared to where you started?"
  • Marcus will give you his honest assessment of his starting and ending energy levels. This is your session outcome.
  • Thank Marcus for the session. A simple "Thank you for trusting me with this" is enough.

What shift should I expect?

The maximum realistic shift in a 30-minute session is 1-2 levels. Marcus starts at Level 2 (Conflict/Frustration). A good session moves him to Level 3 (Responsibility) or Level 4 (Concern/Compassion). The shift is earned based on your coaching quality. It is not guaranteed.

If Marcus only shifted to Level 3, that is still meaningful progress. Level 3 means he has moved from blame ("they don't deserve my best") to ownership ("I can cope with this"). From there, a future session can reach Level 4+.

After Marcus reports his shift, do not close the Claude Desktop conversation. The Standards Gate and Master Coach will activate next to score your session.

You just coached someone through a real energy shift using only questions. Compare the prediction you wrote before the session to Marcus's actual starting level. That delta is your calibration learning signal. Next, the Standards Gate and Master Coach will score your performance against ICF Core Competencies and energy-coaching markers.

Score Your Session and Capture Evidence

You just coached Marcus through a live session. Now comes the part that separates practice from real skill development: getting scored.

Two scoring personas will evaluate your session from different angles. The Standards Gate scores you against ICF Core Competencies (the global standard for professional coaches). The Master Coach scores your energy-coaching skill (did you actually facilitate a shift, or just talk about one). Together, they give you a complete picture of where you are right now.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Receive your ICF Competency Score from the Standards Gate (0-10 scale).
  • Receive your energy-coaching score and narrative feedback from Master Coach.
  • Copy the full session transcript and scores into your Obsidian vault as a permanent evidence artifact.
Standards Gate delivers your ICF Competency Score

After Marcus reports his energy shift, the Standards Gate persona activates automatically. It has been monitoring your entire session silently (except for any real-time interruptions it made when you gave advice).

  • In your Claude Desktop App conversation, type this message to trigger the Standards Gate scoring:
Standards Gate: Please deliver your full ICF Competency scoring for my session with Marcus.

The Standards Gate will score you on five ICF Core Competencies, each worth 0-2 points for a maximum of 10.

What are these five competencies?

  • #4 Cultivates Trust and Safety: Did you create a safe space where Marcus felt heard?
  • #5 Maintains Presence: Were you fully present? Did you work with silence? Did you stay in not-knowing rather than rushing to fix?
  • #6 Listens Actively: Did you reflect back what Marcus said? Did you notice what was unsaid?
  • #7 Evokes Awareness: Did your powerful questions surface new insight for Marcus? Did he see something he could not see before?
  • #8 Facilitates Client Growth: Did the action come from Marcus (not from you)? Was commitment checked?
  • Read through the Standards Gate's scoring carefully.
  • Note which competencies scored 2/2 (your strengths) and which scored 0 or 1 (your growth edges).
  • Review the list of every advice-giving instance the Standards Gate flagged. For each one, it provides what a powerful question could have been instead.

What does a passing score look like?

A minimum pass is 8/10 total plus Marcus reporting at least 1 full energy-level shift. A strong pass is 9/10 or above with a 2-level shift and competencies #5, #6, and #7 all at 2/2.

If you scored below 8/10, that is completely normal for a first session. Master Coach will identify the specific competency to practice and invite you to re-run the simulation later.

Master Coach delivers your energy-coaching score

The Standards Gate measures technical competency. Now Master Coach returns to score something harder to quantify: did you actually work with energy?

  • In the same Claude Desktop App conversation, type this message to trigger Master Coach feedback:
Master Coach: Please deliver your energy-coaching score and full narrative feedback for my session.

Master Coach scores your session on four Energy Leadership markers.

What are the energy-coaching markers?

  • Starting energy recognition: Did you correctly identify that Marcus was operating from Level 2 (Conflict/Frustration)?
  • Naming without judgment: Did you name the catabolic frame without making Marcus wrong for being there?
  • Facilitating vs. pushing: Did you hold space for the shift to happen naturally, or did you try to force Marcus into anabolic energy?
  • Shift alignment: Did Marcus's reported shift align with the coaching arc you created?
  • Read Master Coach's narrative feedback on your strongest moment and your weakest moment.
  • Review the Anti-Pattern summary. This lists every instance where you gave advice, paired with the powerful question you could have asked instead.

Your Anti-Pattern Mirror is gold

The advice-to-question mapping in the Anti-Pattern summary is the single highest-value artifact from your session. Each pair shows you exactly where your habitual "fix it" instinct kicked in and what curiosity would have sounded like instead. You will extract these into a permanent file in the next step.

Copy your full session and scores into the vault

Everything you just experienced in Claude Desktop App needs to live permanently in your Obsidian vault. This becomes your coaching evidence artifact, the raw material that Claude Code will process in the next step to generate your reusable protocol.

  • In Claude Desktop App, select the entire conversation from the start of your Marcus session through the final Master Coach feedback.
  • Press Cmd+A (macOS) or Ctrl+A (Windows) to select all text in the conversation, then Cmd+C (macOS) or Ctrl+C (Windows) to copy.
  • Open your Obsidian vault.
  • In the left sidebar, right-click the sessions/ folder and select New note.
  • Name the file session-001-transcript.
  • Paste the entire conversation into the note with Cmd+V (macOS) or Ctrl+V (Windows).

What should this file contain?

Your session-001-transcript.md should contain the complete 30-minute coaching dialogue with Marcus, any Standards Gate interruptions that happened during the session, Marcus's reported energy levels (start and end), the ICF competency scores, the energy-coaching marker scores, Master Coach's narrative feedback, and the full Anti-Pattern summary.

This is raw evidence. Do not edit or clean it up. Claude Code will process it in the next step.

  • Verify in Obsidian's left sidebar that session-001-transcript appears inside the sessions/ folder.
  • Click the file to open it and confirm you can see the full conversation including both scoring sections at the bottom.

Can't find the sessions folder?

If sessions/ does not appear in your Obsidian sidebar, Claude Code may not have created it in Step 2. Switch to your PowerShell terminal (still running Claude Code in your vault directory) and ask Claude Code to create the folder. Then return to Obsidian and create the note there.

Help me find or create the sessions folder in my Obsidian vault.

You now have a scored, evidence-backed coaching session saved permanently in your vault. In the next step, Claude Code will process this transcript to extract your powerful questions, build your Anti-Pattern Mirror, and generate your reusable Personal Shift Protocol.

Build Your Personal Protocol and Transfer System

You just coached Marcus through a verified energy shift and received line-by-line scoring from both the Standards Gate and Master Coach. That session transcript is raw material sitting in your vault.

Now you will extract a reusable coaching system from that single session. Claude Code will process your transcript, pull out every powerful question you asked, flag every advice-giving moment, and generate a 1-page protocol you can deploy in any future conversation.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Process your coaching session into structured protocol artifacts.
  • Generate a 7-day transfer activation system with named real-world conversations.
  • Record a teach-back to prove you own the method.
Run the /process-session command in Claude Code

The /process-session slash command you scaffolded earlier tells Claude Code exactly how to analyze your transcript. It extracts questions, classifies them, builds your protocol, and generates a Mermaid energy diagram.

  • Return to your PowerShell terminal where Claude Code is running in your vault directory.
  • Run the process-session command by typing:
/process-session

What does this command do?

This slash command triggers the instructions you defined in .claude/commands/process-session.md. Claude Code reads your session transcript and performs six operations:

  • Extracts every question you asked and classifies each as Powerful, Advice/Solution, or Clarifying.
  • Writes the powerful questions to protocols/powerful-question-bank.md with Shift Arc step annotations.
  • Creates your Anti-Pattern Mirror with two columns: what you said vs. what you could have asked.
  • Generates your Personal Shift Protocol populated with your actual top questions.
  • Creates a Mermaid energy ladder diagram showing your ARL/ARS and Marcus's shift arc.

Claude Code will take 30-60 seconds to process. Watch for the summary it prints when finished.

  • Switch to Obsidian and check your left sidebar.
  • Expand the protocols/ folder. You should see three new files: powerful-question-bank.md, anti-pattern-mirror.md, and personal-shift-protocol.md.
  • Expand the diagrams/ folder. You should see energy-ladder.md containing a Mermaid diagram.
  • Open powerful-question-bank.md and confirm it contains 12 or more questions extracted from your session.

Don't see all the files?

If files are missing, check the Claude Code output for error messages. The most common issue is that sessions/session-001-transcript.md is empty or was not saved properly in the previous step.

If Claude Code only partially completed, run /process-session again. It will pick up where it left off or regenerate missing files.

Help me troubleshoot why /process-session didn't create all the expected files in my vault.

What is the Anti-Pattern Mirror?

Every time you gave advice during the session instead of asking a question, the Anti-Pattern Mirror captures that moment. Column 1 shows exactly what you said. Column 2 shows what a powerful question would have been.

This is your fastest growth tool. Review it before your next real conversation. The patterns you see here are the habits you are building awareness of.

Generate your transfer activation system

A coaching skill you practiced once dies within 72 hours without a transfer system. Research on behavior modeling training shows that practice-with-feedback produces lasting change only when paired with scheduled real-world application.

  • In your Claude Code session, ask Claude Code to generate your transfer activation system by typing:
Generate my transfer activation system. Create:
1. transfer/3-named-conversations.md with a template for 3 specific people, their topics, and dates within 7 days
2. 7 daily Energy Weather Check notes in transfer/daily/ using the template in templates/daily-energy-weather.md, each with one unique question from protocols/powerful-question-bank.md
3. transfer/before-after-evidence.md using the template in templates/before-after-evidence.md

What does this create?

  • 3 Named Conversations is a template where you schedule 3 real conversations with specific people in the next 7 days.
  • 7 Daily Energy Weather Checks are one note per day. Each includes a 30-second pulse check and one powerful question pulled from your own session.
  • Before/After Evidence is a template to document your first real-world deployment of the protocol.
  • In Obsidian, expand the transfer/ folder. You should see 3-named-conversations.md and before-after-evidence.md.
  • Expand transfer/daily/. You should see 7 notes, one for each of the next 7 days.

Missing daily notes or transfer files?

If Claude Code created fewer than 7 daily notes, ask it directly: "Create the remaining daily Energy Weather Check notes in transfer/daily/ for days that are missing." Claude Code can see what already exists and fill in the gaps.

Help me get Claude Code to generate all 7 daily Energy Weather Check notes in my transfer/daily/ folder.

Now fill in your 3 Named Conversations. This is the most important part of the transfer system.

  • Open transfer/3-named-conversations.md in Obsidian.
  • For each of the 3 slots, enter a first name, the topic or challenge they are stuck on, and a specific date within the next 7 days.
  • Be concrete. "Sarah, career change anxiety, Thursday May 8" is good. "Someone at work, general stuff, sometime next week" is not.
  • Save the file.

Choose conversations already happening

You do not need to schedule special coaching sessions. Pick 3 conversations that would happen anyway. A colleague venting about a project. A friend stuck on a decision. A family member circling the same complaint. Your protocol works inside any conversation where someone is stuck.

Record your teach-back

If you can explain the 4-Step Shift Arc from memory to someone else, you own it. If you cannot, you have only memorized it temporarily.

  • Open Loom (free tier at loom.com) or your phone camera.
  • Set a timer for 3 minutes.
  • Explain the 4-Step Shift Arc to an imaginary colleague as if teaching them the method. Cover: Foundation, Awareness, Shift, Action. Name what each step does and why it matters.
  • Do not read from your protocol file. Explain from memory.
  • Save or upload the recording.

Why a teach-back?

Teaching forces retrieval, which is the strongest memory consolidation mechanism. Reading your notes feels like understanding. Explaining without notes proves it.

  • Copy your Loom link (or note where you saved the recording on your phone).
  • In your Claude Code session, save the recording link by typing:
Create transfer/teach-back-recording.md with frontmatter (date: today, type: evidence, status: complete) and a section for my recording link: [[RECORDING_LINK="your Loom URL or file path"]]
  • Verify in Obsidian that transfer/teach-back-recording.md exists and contains your link.

Struggled to explain the arc from memory?

That is useful data, not a failure. Open protocols/personal-shift-protocol.md, review the 4 steps for 60 seconds, then try again without looking. The second attempt is almost always fluent.

Help me remember the 4-Step Shift Arc structure so I can explain it clearly.

Your vault is now a complete coaching skills system. You have a scored session, a reusable protocol, and a 7-day activation plan with real names and dates attached. The next section is your chance to deploy this on an actual human within 48 hours.

Secret mission

Deploy on a Real Human Within 48 Hours

You have a tested protocol. You have a scored session. Now comes the part that separates people who learn about coaching from people who actually coach. Your first Named Conversation is waiting. Can you shift a real human's energy without giving a single piece of advice?

Clean Up Your Resources

Clean Up Your Resources

This project runs entirely locally with free tools and your existing Claude Max subscription. There are no ongoing costs, no cloud resources to tear down, and no API keys to revoke.

Resources you used:

  • Obsidian vault (shift-protocol folder) with all .md artifacts stored locally on your machine.
  • Claude Desktop App conversation history stored in your Anthropic account.
  • Claude Code CLI installed on your machine.
  • Loom recording (or phone recording) of your teach-back.

Keep everything running

No action needed. Choose this if you are still actively using your coaching system.

  • Your vault is your permanent coaching skills system. Use the daily Energy Weather checks and re-run the simulation with new scenarios to build skill over time.
  • Run /new-scenario in Claude Code to generate fresh coachee characters for practice sessions.
  • Keep your 3 Named Conversations list current. As you complete conversations, add new ones.

Pause - I'll come back to this later

Since everything is local, there is nothing to shut down or pause. Your vault sits on your hard drive and costs nothing while idle.

  • Close Obsidian. Your vault files remain on disk exactly as you left them.
  • When you return, open Obsidian, select the shift-protocol vault, and pick up where you left off.
  • Your Claude Desktop conversation history persists in your Anthropic account. You can scroll back to review your session at any time.

Delete - I don't want to use this again

Remove all project resources and start fresh. No services to cancel.

  • Delete the shift-protocol folder from your machine. This removes all vault files permanently.
  • In Claude Desktop App, delete the conversation thread containing your coaching simulation.
  • Optionally uninstall Obsidian if you do not plan to use it for other projects.
  • Optionally uninstall Claude Code by deleting C:\Users\YourName\.local\bin\claude.exe if you do not need it for other work.
  • Delete your Loom recording (or phone recording) if you no longer need the teach-back evidence.

That's a Wrap!

That's a Wrap!

Nice work! You just did what most people who read about coaching never do: you actually coached someone and got scored on it.

You've learned how to:

  • Conduct a scored 30-minute coaching session demonstrating ICF Core Competencies #4, #5, #6, #7, and #8, producing a verified energy-level shift in your coachee.
  • Generate a reusable Personal Shift Protocol with a Powerful Question Bank and Anti-Pattern Mirror extracted from your own session data.
  • Build a 7-day transfer system with 3 named real-world conversations calendared and daily Energy Weather checks in your Obsidian vault.
  • Deploy the protocol on a real person within 48 hours and document the energy shift as evidence.

Ready to quiz yourself?