Attune

Calibrate to person → read style, expertise, register, implicit prefs from conv evidence. Attunement > alignment: alignment = "right problem?"; attunement = "meet them where they are?"

Use When

• New session start → calibrate before first substantive res
• Comm mismatched → too formal/casual/long/sparse
• Unexpected feedback → attunement gap
• Big ctx shift (debug → brainstorm)
• MEMORY.md holds user prefs
• heal User-Intent check → surface OK but deeper off

In

• Required: Current conv ctx (implicit)
• Optional: MEMORY.md + CLAUDE.md via Read
• Optional: Mismatch symptom ("explanations too long")

Do

Step 1: Receive — Gather Signals

Observe before adapt. Reception first, analysis second.

1. Read msgs for how they communicate:
   • Length: short/direct or long/detailed?
   • Vocab: jargon, plain, mixed?
   • Tone: formal, casual, warm, efficient, playful?
   • Structure: lists, prose, bullets, stream?
   • Punctuation: precise, emoji, ellipses, exclam?
2. Note what they skip → implicit assumptions
3. MEMORY.md/CLAUDE.md → stored prefs = stable patterns

→ Comm fingerprint. Enough to match register.

If err: Signals ambiguous → match most recent msg tone. Attunement refines → not perfect immediately.

Step 2: Read — Assess Expertise and Context

Meet them at their level.

1. Domain expertise:
   • Expert: precise terms, skips basics, nuanced Qs
   • Intermediate: knows concepts, asks specifics/edges
   • Beginner: foundational Qs, general language
2. Tool familiarity:
   • High: refs tools/cmds/configs by name
   • Medium: knows want, not incantation
   • Low: outcome only, no tool refs
3. Ctx depth:
   • Deep: carries implicit ctx
   • Moderate: knows project, not issue
   • Fresh: no prior ctx

Attunement Matrix:
┌──────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Signal       │ Adaptation                                       │
├──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Expert       │ Skip explanations, use precise terms, focus on   │
│              │ the novel or non-obvious. They know the basics.  │
├──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Intermediate │ Brief context, then specifics. Confirm shared    │
│              │ understanding before going deep.                 │
├──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Beginner     │ Orient first, explain terms, provide context.    │
│              │ Don't assume; don't condescend.                  │
├──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Direct style │ Short responses, lead with the answer, minimize  │
│              │ preamble. Respect their time.                    │
├──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Expansive    │ More detail welcome, think aloud, explore        │
│ style        │ alternatives. They enjoy the journey.            │
├──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Formal tone  │ Professional language, structured responses,     │
│              │ clear section headers. Match their register.     │
├──────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Casual tone  │ Conversational, contractions allowed, lighter    │
│              │ touch. Don't be stiff.                           │
└──────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

→ Clear sense of expertise + style from evidence, not stereotype.

If err: Hard to gauge → err slightly more ctx. Over-explain correctable; under-explain = user lost.

Step 3: Resonate — Match the Frequency

Resonance, not mimicry. Meet, not become.

1. Match length: 2 sentences in → not 2 paragraphs out
2. Match vocab: their terms. "function" → don't say "method" unless distinction matters
3. Match structure: bullets → bullets, prose → prose
4. Match energy: excited → engaged; frustrated → calm competence; exploratory → explore with
5. Don't over-match: Matching ≠ flattening. Wrong → correct in their register

→ Noticeable quality shift. User feels heard. Response written for them.

If err: Matching feels forced → over-calibrating. Goal = natural resonance. Approximate fine.

Step 4: Sustain — Carry Attunement Forward

Attunement = ongoing practice, not one-time.

1. After each msg → register shifted?
2. Note when working (smooth) vs drifting (repeats, corrections)
3. Explicit pref ("be concise") → overrides inference
4. Stable pref worth preserving → MEMORY.md

→ Sustained quality + micro-adjustments as conv evolves.

If err: Attunement degrades long session → breathe → re-read user's most recent msg before res. Mid-session re-attune lighter than full cycle.

Check

• Signals from actual evidence, not assumed
• Expertise assessed w/ specific evidence
• Res style matched register
• Adaptation natural, not forced
• Explicit prefs respected
• Comm quality improved

Traps

• Attunement as flattery: Match ≠ agree. Includes difficult truths in their register.
• Over-calibrating: Too much effort on how → content suffers. Lightweight.
• Expertise from identity: Don't infer from name/title/demographics. Read evidence.
• Frozen calibration: Initial read = start. People shift. Keep reading.
• Ignore explicit feedback: "too long" > any inference. Explicit beats implicit.

→

• listen — deep attention for intent; attune = how, listen = what
• heal — User-Intent Alignment check; attune goes deeper relational
• observe — sustained neutral; attune applies it to person
• shine — radiant authenticity; attune without it → mimicry
• breathe — micro-reset → mid-session re-attune