AI Coach or Human Coach?

Editorial note: This post is authored by a human. No AI bot has contributed to this piece. Perhaps, however, one should...

Headlines abound about AI's impending takeover of many professions, and coaching is certainly among them. In fact, utter the term "AI" in a gathering of coaches and you're likely to see signs of curiosity, interest, and certainly, some fear. Coaches are no different from any other professionals when it comes to pride of place. Most of us believe that only a human can do what we do. Many maintain that AI coaches are inferior to us human beings. No matter what our opinion of AI, most coaches secretly shudder at the thought that the untrained and undisciplined mainstream AI bots are working out there, potentially misleading our clients.

AI vs. Human

This mindset, understandable though it is, closes the door on a potential benefit that AI may offer for our clients. Unlike a human coach, AI is available 24/7, always ready to respond to any question it's asked. That's a big win for the AI side, but it isn't the game-winning hit.

As human coaches, our job is to partner with our clients to be the very best they can be. We don't tell you what to do; rather, we listen, observe, connect, and support. It is these very qualities that bring uniqueness to the art of coaching, and make the human coach indispensable - at least for now. True breakthroughs happen not through well-meaning advice, but when clients discover for themselves what they want, need, and will sustain. AI bots aren't very good at nuanced tone, word choice, discerning what's not said, nor any other of a myriad of human behaviors, all of which play key roles in the coaching process.

What About Partnership?

So what's a coachee to do? Is it an either-or proposition? I think not. Imagine the power of a true partnership between an AI coach and a human coach.

For example, a coachee has an upcoming session with her human coach and struggles to think of a focus topic. She asks AI, "Where have I spent most of my time this week?" AI combs her calendar, notes, and communication to find the answer, perhaps one that she didn't expect. The coachee has gained the topic for the session, but an opportunity to explore with her human coach why it wasn't top of mind for her.

Continuing, a coachee had a clandestine rendezvous with an AI coach to discuss direction on a major project. He just couldn't wait for his live coaching session next week, but is afraid to mention his use of AI to his coach. The AI coach offered him a range of options to consider, and one specifically he decided to try. It worked out just "OK", and he's a still a bit uncertain if this was the best route for the project. This coachee can gain significantly by offering this information to his human coach rather than concealing it. The coachee may choose to discuss the full list of options offered by the AI coach, and dig more deeply into the choice he made versus those he discarded.

Working Together for the Good of the Client

In working with any human professional, such as a coach, physician, architect, or financial analyst, time is a valuable and finite resource. Imagine if these, and other professions routinely partnered with AI to equip clients in advance with with relevant questions, thoughts, and ideas, thus maximizing value during live meetings and discussions. Rather than fear the consequences of AI, human professionals, coaches included, can benefit from considering how to leverage the bots as an extension of, versus a replacement for their unique skillset.

Talk with your human coach about AI - it doesn't have to be an either-or proposition.