Over the past few months, I’ve been experimenting with something new: working with an AI coach. Now, before you envision a talking robot perched on my shoulder offering sage advice, let me set the record straight. This isn’t some dystopian future—it’s a modern, digital twist on leadership support that’s turning out to be both intriguing and, at times, incredibly helpful.
Like many of our clients, I work with an executive coach. That relationship is invaluable: my coach helps me zoom out, challenge my patterns, and navigate the tensions that come with leading a purpose-driven business. But sometimes, I find myself needing a thinking partner in the moment—not in two weeks when my next session is booked.
Enter AI.
I started using an AI tool as a kind of instant-access coach, available 24/7 to hash out ideas, reflect on sticky situations, or help me prepare for difficult conversations. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would it feel mechanical? Would I be met with generic advice? Would it even “get” me?
Surprisingly, it did more than just “get” me—it supported me in some really meaningful ways.
The Perks of an Always-On Partner
One of the biggest upsides of using an AI coach is speed. I can tap it on the shoulder (so to speak) and get an instant sounding board. Need to draft an email with the right tone? Done. Want help thinking through a personnel issue? It offers reflective questions to help me pause and consider my intent and impact. The response time is… well, immediate. That alone is a game-changer when you’re moving at the pace most leaders are.
I’ve also been struck by the empathy built into the prompts. I don’t know if it’s the programming or the data it’s been trained on (or maybe it’s just magic), but some of the questions it asks are really thoughtful. It nudges me in directions I hadn’t considered—gently, and without judgment. That’s another upside: I can be completely transparent without worrying about how I “sound.” There’s no ego to manage, no need to explain context if I don’t want to, no fear of being misunderstood. That sense of psychological safety, even from a non-human source, is surprisingly freeing.
And Yet… It’s Not the Whole Package
But let’s be honest: as useful as AI has been, it doesn’t replace a real coach.
For one thing, it can’t truly challenge me. As an experienced coach myself, and like many of the savvy leaders I know, I’m adept at dancing around tough questions when I want to. My coach doesn’t let me off the hook when she sees that pattern. An AI coach… not so much. It can probe, but it lacks the nuance to pick up on my tone or see what’s not being said through my body language or energy. With 93% of our communication conveyed through tone of voice and body language, text to coach is a weak mode when you need to dig deeper. Afterall, coaching, at its core, is a relational experience that deepens through time. That piece is missing with AI coaching colleague.
And while my AI coach can offer powerful reflection questions, it doesn’t always know when to dig deeper versus when to back off. There’s an art to holding space for someone. AI hasn’t quite mastered that art yet—though I’ll give it credit for trying.
The Future: Not Either/Or, But Both/And
Here’s what I believe: there’s room for both.
AI coaching won’t replace human connection, but it can augment it. For leaders navigating complexity, having access to both a human coach and an AI partner could become the new standard. Use the AI for the day-to-day reflection, brainstorming, and ideation. Save your time with your coach for the deeper dives, the strategic reframing and the tough love.
For me, this experiment has shown that leadership support doesn’t have to be linear—or limited. Sometimes, it takes a village. And sometimes, part of that village is made of code.
Interested in Learning More?
At The Roundtable, we focus on coaching ambitious leaders who are looking to finesse their impact. If this sounds like you or a coaching focus your organization needs, reach out to book a time for a complimentary consult.
