Human & AI in Coaching
Competition or powerful duo?
Your coachee will take part in an AI pilot and will also be able to use the Nadia bot in parallel to the coaching process with you. My first thought when I read this email from bettercoach: Great, now I'm competing with an AI.
The second thought: What does this actually mean for me? KI-Nadia should accompany my coachee between our appointments. Ask questions, help with reflections, always be available. So far, so good.
Multiple perspectives for my coachee
In my coaching sessions, I offer my coachees various hypotheses and perspectives on reality. Now Nadia is another “reality waitress”. Will we complement each other or will there be contradictions that confuse my coachee? And what will Nadia's added value actually be? Is it her round-the-clock availability? Or her ability to generate new questions and ideas in a matter of seconds?
Perhaps the combination with AI will also lead to new possibilities? If my coachee has already pre-sorted certain thoughts with Nadia, we could get to the essential points more directly in the sessions. But perhaps this also creates a blind spot?
What no AI can capture
It's often the subtle nuances that make the difference. The slight tension in the voice. The change in posture when discussing sensitive topics. The energy when we come across the question behind the question. My intuition and sense for the right moment are based on experience, empathy and my holistic perception. Can an algorithm do the same? Hardly.
The special interaction
Just like Nadia, I ask questions and reflect on what has been said. AI can recognize patterns and give wise advice, but I also react to what is not said, adapting to the rhythm and energy of my counterpart. I can sense when a moment of silence is more important than the next question. I notice when there is an emotional block behind a rational-sounding answer. I visualize and use the power of images. And I involve the body in my work: through constellations, embodiment or mindfulness exercises.
Coaching thrives on compassion and connection
The certainty that a genuine counterpart is taking part and is really present makes a decisive difference. People intuitively sense whether their counterpart is resonating with them or just generating analytically appropriate answers. The trust and safe space that can develop between two people - hopefully - enables deeper development than the interaction between humans and AI.
I am curious about the experiment. Because the future of coaching probably lies neither exclusively with us humans nor with AI, but in the intelligent interaction of both worlds, in which each part contributes its unique strengths.
What is your experience with AI support in coaching?
