AI and Human Coaching Comparison

Today’s Modern Love column in The New York Times highlighted a woman who used ChatGPT as a confidante during a tough spell in her life. It activated something that I’ve been thinking about for a couple of years now: Will AI replace coaches and therapists? I’m going with no. Here’s what I know after two decades in this work: there are things that make us irreplaceably human. 1. We hold space in ways AI cannot. When someone is falling apart in front of you, there’s an energetic presence that happens between two humans. It’s not just about the words we say. It’s about the way we breathe together, the way our silence feels safe, the way our own nervous system helps regulate theirs. 2. We read what’s not being said. That microexpression when someone mentions their partner. The way shoulders drop when they finally tell the truth. The shift in breathing when they’re about to have a breakthrough. We catch the moment someone’s energy changes—sometimes before they do. AI might analyze words, but can it feel when the whole room shifts? Nope. 3. We bring our scars to the healing. The best coaches and therapists aren’t the ones who’ve never struggled. They’re the ones who’ve walked through their own fire and can sit with yours without flinching. Our lived experience creates a bridge that no amount of training data can replicate. 4. We improvise with intuition. (I’ve often said that the best training I have for my job is seven years of doing improv.) Yes, AI can follow protocols and suggest interventions. But can it sense when to completely abandon the plan because something else is emerging? Can it notice that someone’s posture just changed and know exactly what question to ask next? Can it recognize the moment when breakthrough is about to happen and lean in? No. Or at least, not yet. 5. We model being human. Every time we admit we don’t have all the answers, every time we show up imperfectly, every time we demonstrate that growth is messy and nonlinear, we’re teaching something AI never could: how to be beautifully, courageously human. 6. We create the relationship that IS the healing. It’s not just what happens in the session. It’s the fact that I am showing up for YOU, week after week, believing in your capacity to grow, change, and succeed even when you don’t. AI is a powerful tool. I use it every day. But it will never replace the irreplaceable: the human heart in service of another human heart. #AI #coaching #therapy https://lnkd.in/erPKjE7F

🤖 AI can enhance your coaching—but it can’t replace conversation, context, or courage. Yes, it can analyze talk time, word choice, sentiment. It can spot when a rep speaks too much or avoids pricing. But here’s what AI can’t do: It can’t feel tension in a rep’s voice. It can’t notice a shift in posture during tough feedback. It can’t sit in silence when a rep says, “I don’t think I’m good enough anymore.” Let’s break it down. 🔎 Where AI helps: * Surfacing trends in talk tracks * Highlighting rep behavior patterns at scale * Speeding up feedback loops for repetitive issues Coach: “AI shows you’re avoiding direct language during budget talks. Let’s dissect that moment together.” But that’s just the first 10%. The rest is human coaching. 💬 Where AI hurts: * Coaching becomes transactional: “Fix the red box.” * Reps start performing for the tool instead of selling with intent * Emotional nuance is missed completely Coach: “The data says this deal is fine. But you sound checked out. What’s really going on?” 🧠 Framework to integrate AI into coaching without losing humanity: 1. Use AI to spot patterns—not as the final answer 2. Ground every insight in a real conversation 3. Prioritize emotion, energy, and context over checklists 4. Ask better questions, not just provide faster answers Coach: “Why do you think you drop confidence in second meetings?” Rep: “That’s where I start questioning myself.” Coach: “That’s not a scripting issue. That’s an identity edge we’re going to strengthen.” AI doesn’t build trust. It doesn’t challenge limiting beliefs. It doesn’t remind someone who they are when they forget. Only a great coach does that. Follow me for more B2B sales insights. Repost if this resonates. Subscribe to my B2B Sales Sorcery Newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/dgdPAd3h Explore free B2B sales playbooks: https://lnkd.in/dg2-Vac6

AI coaching is here—sort of... Here's a study that examined the effectiveness of AI coaching versus human coaching. The results? AI performed remarkably well when goals were clear and measurable, even matching human coaches in monitoring and following up on goal progress. This isn’t surprising—AI thrives on consistency, crystal clear context, and goal orientation. But performance is not equal to development. The magic of coaching is in creating developmental shifts, not tracking progress. True coaching helps clients navigate ambivalence, clarify priorities, and uncover perspectives that lead to meaningful, lasting change. And how often do clients come to coaching with perfectly clear goals? The journey to define those goals—and work through the resistance and ambivalence surrounding them—is central to the process. This study confirms what many of us already know: AI coaching lacks the depth, creativity, and empathy that make human coaching truly transformational. AI cannot yet unravel the knots of conflicting priorities or spark the breakthrough “aha” moments that redefine success. The prevalence of “AI coaching” bots raises a critical issue. Many of these tools aren’t coaching at all—they offer advice, suggestions, and nudges, playing to AI’s strengths rather than the holistic, nuanced work of a skilled coach. AI may disrupt the field, but as of today it looks like it will be for coaches relying on formulaic approaches (hello, GROW model). But for those who embrace emotional depth, relational nuance, and the complexity of human growth, AI alternatives are not on the level. At Hudson Institute of Coaching, we see tremendous potential for AI to enhance coaching outcomes, and we’re actively building tools to push the boundaries of what’s possible. But let’s set the bar high. If it isn’t developmental, it’s not coaching. Let’s call it what it is—and challenge ourselves to define what true coaching can be in a world of emerging AI. Source: https://lnkd.in/gsxn9Jbg Prof. Nicky Terblanche (PhD) Erik de Haan Joanna Molyn, Ph.D Viktor Nilsson

"You probably didn't have very good coaches." 🤷♂️ That was my first reaction reading this WSJ article, https://lnkd.in/g5JWy39W, on AI career coaches. 🧠 Six months ago, I shared why I STOPPED developing my own GPT coach, CoachonCall™, and what I learned in the process. https://lnkd.in/gYnTj7ks Reading this article brought up some deeper questions about what we're actually creating here. The author talks about training herself to SPEAK FAST ENOUGH that "Viv" wouldn't interrupt - staying in stream-of-consciousness mode, saying things she'd normally edit out. Curious.  Yes, sometimes, we need to go with our gut, say what comes to mind first and not overthink.  However, there are times we need to 𝙋𝘼𝙐𝙎𝙀 and be more reflective. She also mentions Viv also doesn’t care about pleasantries and won’t be offended if it’s told to "dial down the enthusiasm." Viv returns the favor by “ stoking [the author’s] appetite for direct feedback.” But in many cultures, direct feedback is not the norm.  GPT coaches need to be train on culturally responsive coaching otherwise the “advice” and “coaching” can have detrimental outcomes.  𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘐 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳: --> Clients don't always know what they need - Can AI read the nuances of context, tone, emotion, and body language? Not just what they SAY, but what they're not saying? --> Trust and psychological safety come first - Before any real performance coaching can happen --> Transformation takes time - Sometimes slowing down matters more than AI's instant availability --> Culturally responsive coaching isn't optional - One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to feedback or leadership styles. In my practice, I start with human connection - building trust, understanding their unique style and needs. Only then, I might introduce AI CoachonCall™ build with guardrails including the International Coaching Federation ethics guidelines to extend their learning 🤖 The majority though, never use the AI coach because they still want the human connection Whether it's human or AI, coaching only works when it truly serves the client where they are at, not where we think they should be. 🤔 I'm curious: Are you seeing AI coaching complement human relationships in your world, or is it replacing them entirely? And what are we losing (or gaining) in that shift? Hojeong Kim, Tim Butler, Doug Lester, Michael Hudson, Sherry Z., Michael Takagawa, Margaret Enloe #CareerCoaching #AICoaching #FutureOfWork #coaching