The case for coaching is a straightforward one to make: Coaching sets managers up for success. When managers succeed, their organizations succeed.
We know that leadership coaching has the potential to be a transformational powerhouse for any organization if scaled up to all managers or, even better, to all employees. In fact, employees reporting to effective managers are 15x more likely to be high performers and 3x more likely to stay with their employer compared with those reporting to the average manager, according to Gartner.
Now, with the dawn of new and innovative artificial intelligence applications, access to AI-enabled coaching will open up for managers.
As access increases, more managers will be able to interact with always-on, expert coaches trained in the principles and best practices of coaching. The limitations of traditional coaching as we know them will be lifted. As a result, businesses can reap the rewards of coaching across their organizations at every level, and they’ll enjoy more purpose-driven cultures, better alignment to strategy, better connection to the mission and vision, and improved employee experience.
AI is redefining the way managers learn, grow, and execute. Every manager should embrace an AI guide—for coaching, guidance, and expert advice—to help them be their very best.
AI-enabled coaching platforms have several benefits and advantages over traditional scheduled coaching. Discover some of these advantages below.
Coaching access will be opened up to all managers and all employees.
AI reduces the number one barrier to entry for all: cost. The typical cost for a manager on traditional (human-only) coaching programs can range from $7,000 to over $25,000 per manager per year. Company-sponsored AI coaching platforms provide high-quality conversations at a fraction of the cost of traditional coaching. Employees whose companies buy AI coaching software simply need access to a device and a reliable internet connection to get started on their coaching journeys.
AI offers just-in-time coaching, available 24/7.
In a fast-moving work environment, the issue with relying only on scheduled coaching sessions (typically bimonthly or monthly) is that the conversation tends to be about stale topics that have lost their urgency and relevance. Sometimes managers struggle to even come up with topics to discuss. 24/7 availability of an AI coach radically changes the status quo. Without scheduling limitations or off hours, employees can talk through problems as they come up and receive instant feedback and guidance. Challenges and fires can be converted into opportunities. Learning is immediate and relevant.
AI coaches can specialize in multiple coaching styles and offer holistic integration.
An important benefit of AI coaching compared with traditional coaching is that the AI can have competence in multiple different coaching specialties and styles. Further, it can holistically integrate these specialties for a best-in-class tailored experience.
Traditionally, coaching has specialized in a number of areas of competence. While there are extremely skilled coaches who can flex to a number of situations, typically coaches tend to specialize in specific areas of manager and organizational effectiveness. These specialty areas include feedback and 360s, performance coaching, well-being, engagement and organizational development, team effectiveness, overall leadership, strategy, change management and communication, and DEI.
For example, an organizational development coach who is primarily trained in organizational survey analysis and action planning brings a different focus and speciality to the table compared with someone who specializes in performance coaching. Coaches also tend to specialize or focus on specific tools and methodologies that are more appropriate for certain situations than others. Examples of such tools include the MBTI, DiSC and Enneagram, or specific competency models, and values and strengths assessments.
The AI coach, on the other hand, can be trained to have full competence over the entire breadth and depth of modern coaching practices, tools, and techniques and can adapt and tailor its coaching to the specific situation and coaching needs of the manager, whether it’s about how to give great feedback, how to use mindfulness to manage personal stress and create mental resilience, how to motivate a burned-out team, or how to help with creating a change-management strategy.
An AI-enabled coach can be trained in any and all modern coaching practices, tools, and techniques.
The AI coach is always up-to-date on the latest knowledge, skills, and best practices based on data and evidence. Because most management challenges are a complex set of overlapping aspects—team, stakeholders, decision making, communication, and personal psychology—the ability for AI to take into consideration all the relevant pieces, integrate information from various sources—including engagement surveys, 360s, company mission and values, and DEI statements—and deliver best-practice coaching across all of these aspects has the potential to dramatically improve the overall effectiveness of coaching.
AI coaches can tailor coach-manager fit to any individual.
An often overlooked element of traditional coaching is that the success of coaching often depends on the “style fit” between the manager and the coach. This is a function of several attributes, including the manager’s learning style, their experience level and background, and how that matches with the coach’s philosophy, training, and personal style.
While the best coaches tend to flex and adapt to different methodologies according to the learning styles and needs of managers, more often than not, typical coaches tend to specialize in one or more styles that they are trained in. These styles include directive coaching (where the coach provides specific guidance, advice, and instructions to the manager) and non-directive coaching (which involves the coach asking questions and facilitating self-reflection, allowing the manager to arrive at their own insights and solutions). Other styles of coaching include Goal-Oriented Coaching, Developmental Coaching, Performance Coaching, Transformational Coaching, and Situational Coaching, among others.
On the other hand, AI coaches can quickly identify and tailor their style to create the best possible “fit” for each manager and the situation or challenge at hand. This enables coaching to not only meet the manager where they are but also expand and grow with the manager.
Coaching can be personalized to both employee and company preferences.
Employees can receive tailored interactions and continuous feedback based on their skills, preferences, and previous conversations. AI can personalize coaching interactions to individuals over time, checking in on progress and helping them achieve long-term goals. AI platforms have perfect memories, continuously analyzing and adapting the approach to users.
AI-enabled coaching is also tailored to company content. It can be trained on the company’s mission, vision, and values statements to ensure alignment with the company’s strategies and objectives. It can match the management philosophies, culture, and other practices in the company.
The AI coach can provide guidance on situations specific to individuals, all while employing the unique perspective and culture of a given organization.
AI coaches offer insights and analytics.
The data aggregated from coaching sessions and company usage can be used to generate analytics and insights for both the individual and the organization.
Users can get personalized insights into their conversations over time, leading to greater self-understanding and the ability to view the arc of their growth and development or gain visibility into recurring themes.
HR leaders can get aggregated insights into the challenges their people are facing, such as top managerial challenges and topics users ask about.
AI-enabled coaches proactively nudge and prompt employees with follow-ups in the flow of work.
Unlike traditional scheduled coaching interactions, AI coaching can also be proactive and nudge managers with follow-ups and reminders in the flow of work. It can deliver micro-learnings and prompt managers to follow up on next steps for their development objectives. It can check in at comfortable intervals to make sure the manager is feeling supported.
Done well, these proactive systems can gently nudge managers and professionals beyond their comfort zones to discover new areas of their genius.
Learn more about the potential of AI applied to manager coaching. Contact the Wisq team today.