Artificial Intelligence’s influence on digital coaching is inevitable. At Mindbeat, we’re taking the lead by developing AI-powered coaching that will support our global network. Mike Fletcher explains.
Our global Mindbeat network of expert coaches will soon receive a new addition to their ranks.
Although not human, automated digital coaches can work alongside experienced coaching practitioners to offer a different perspective on when and how professional development coaching is carried out.
Recent research shows that AI-powered coaches are just as effective as human coaches if there are clearly defined goals and explicit measures of success.
Just imagine an AI-powered coach that’s always ready to offer spur-of-the-moment advice. Traditional coaching can then follow up and provide feedback on any given scenario.
Information gathering is another of the many ways AI-based coaching can work with humans. A single session with an aspiring leader may not be sufficient to gather enough information to formulate leadership pathways, which take into account the person’s unique set of challenges and goals. The AI can interpret huge swathes of data for behavioural trends and other insights. The human coach can then analyse the results to create more personalised strategies.
An AI coach can also help streamline onboarding programmes. It can take new hires through company policies and procedures and answer any questions.
It can also facilitate training tailored to the individual or take users through formatted programmes relating to D&I, employee wellbeing, health and safety or other knowledge-based learning.
Seven benefits of AI-powered coaching
1. Personalised strategies
Not everyone’s professional development is the same. Even if workplace challenges appear to look the same, the context will be different and therefore, so too will the pathway.
Also, people develop at different speeds and through various means. Some thrive when closely monitored by their Mindbeat coach while some prefer the space to work through solutions themselves.
These personalised circumstances are recognised by the AI, allowing the individual to ask questions and to develop at their own pace.
2. Continuous development
Short-term coaching programmes allow employees to develop longer-term relationships with their line managers and put what they’ve learned into action quicker within the workplace.
Having an AI coach supporting short, structured development can help the transition from confiding in a coach to being open and honest with a line manager and integrating leadership models into teams.
3. Undivided attention
AI coaching can attend to multiple employees from the same organisation simultaneously and provide undivided attention and strategies tailored to the individual.
With each interaction, the AI processes new insights and keeps a personalised data record of trends and behavioural patterns. It can also automate tasks, deploy quickly and operate cost-effectively.
4. Available 24/7
With AI, you can access answers to professional development questions or personalised coaching strategies anywhere, anytime and on any device. No more having to juggle diaries to find a slot you and your coach can do.
5. Accessibility
Persons with disabilities can benefit hugely from AI-powered professional development coaching. The AI can evaluate workplace challenges and tailor responses according to an employee’s individual needs.
Accessible tools such as speech-to-text, screen readers and text-only can further remove some of the barriers that people face when having one-to-one sessions.
6. Complete neutrality
AI coaching can be a comfort for anyone faced with a sensitive workplace issue.
Complete neutrality is assured in its responses and the employee can relax knowing that they have as much time as they need to work through different scenarios and respond to the AI’s unbiased questioning.
7. Increased engagement
AI-powered coaching empowers the user to take control of their learning and development. This, along with the interactive and conversational nature of AI, helps to enhance user engagement.
Embrace the future of AI
A majority of humans will always choose genuine face-to-face connections, empathy and emotional intelligence over datasets, algorithms and a chatbot-like interface. Despite this, AI’s ability to democratise coaching, making it possible for anyone, anywhere to achieve professional or personal results, means that machine learning’s influence on coaching is inevitable.
As a result, human coaches will need to experiment with automated AI support to supplement and improve their offer. Ultimately, it will provide an enriched professional development experience and greater value for workplace coaching investment.
If you’d like to speak to Mindbeat about its development of AI-based coaching, drop us a line at [email protected]