AI and Coaching. Making Makes the Difference.

It's striking what artificial intelligence can do. At the same time, it is reassuring that its capabilities still have limits. I am pleased to share a small experiment with you.

As a coach and advisor to executives and key individuals, I face the challenge of not being able to use my work and – much better – my clients' path to success as a reference or case study. This is because what happens during our coaching or advisory sessions takes place in a so-called protected space and is subject to the seal of confidentiality.

During a conversation with a colleague, an idea came to my mind: I could input my core competencies and services along with a prompt such as this into ChatGPT: “Write ashort story, maximum of 400 words, in which a fictional executive, through collaboration with me, my core competencies, and services, turns a critical situation in a company into a success step by step with my regular guidance.”

Now comes the striking part. The stories generated by ChatGPT in just a few seconds could have happened exactly as described and reflect what I experience with my clients.

The reassuring part: Such stories can only happen in real life when people with body, soul, and spirit are involved. Their thinking, actions, and behavior cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence – or probably not in my lifetime.

Here is an example of one of these stories. With the disclaimer that the plot and characters were digitally generated by ChatGPT. Nonetheless, the text very realistically reflects the collaboration with my clients.

Enjoy reading.

[ChatGPT START] Sven was a department head in a mid-sized company and faced a difficult situation. Team performance was stagnating, projects were delayed, and communication was marred by misunderstandings and frustrations. After a particularly problematic meeting, Sven decided to seek professional help.

He turned to an experienced coach who would support him discreetly and confidently. The coach suggested weekly one-to-one sessions to analyze current leadership and communication problems and develop solutions. "It is important that we find concrete and practical approaches," the coach explained during the first meeting.

During the initial conversation, Sven shared his greatest concern: the upcoming presentation of an important project. "I’m afraid the team members aren’t backing me," he confessed. The coach helped him develop a clear and motivating storyline. "Focus on the positive aspects and involve your team," advised the coach. Together, they worked out concrete measures to make the presentation successful.

On the day of the presentation, Sven spoke openly to his team: "I know we’ve faced many challenges recently, but I believe in our abilities. Let’s work on this together." The team's positive reaction surprised him. After the presentation, several colleagues approached him, praising his openness and clarity.

In the following weeks, the sessions with the coach focused on improving team communication and promoting individual responsibility. Sven learned to listen better and give constructive feedback. In one meeting, he specifically asked for opinions and suggestions: "What can we do to improve our way of working?" Team members now felt confident enough to share their ideas, and Sven implemented some of these suggestions.

Over time, trust in Sven’s leadership abilities grew. The atmosphere within the team improved significantly. One employee said during a conversation, "It’s nice to see that our opinions matter and are acted upon." This motivated Sven to continue working closely with the coach.

The positive changes did not go unnoticed. Team performance increased, and projects were completed on time again. Sven’s superiors asked him what had led to this success. "It was the combination of clear communication and involving my team," he explained.

Through continuous support and targeted coaching, the critical situation transformed into a success. Sven became a more effective leader and found joy and fulfillment in his work. The recognition and gratitude from his colleagues were the rewards for the hard work and trust he had placed in the coach. [ChatGPT END]

Do you have ideas, questions, or feel like exchanging thoughts? Feel free to contact me. I guarantee you, there’s no chatbot on the other end!