10: Technology in Coaching

Dec 1, 2024

Guest

Alex Haitoglou

In this insightful discussion, Sam Isaacson, a coachtech thought leader, Nicky Terblanche, an academic and leadership coach, and Alex Haitoglou, co-founder of an AI platform, tackle the intersection of AI and coaching psychology. They highlight the critical need for coaches to understand technology and adapt to rapid advancements while preserving human interaction. The trio examines potential benefits and ethical challenges of AI, the importance of balancing tech with personal connection, and future trends like conversational AI, emphasizing coaching's evolution in a tech-driven landscape.

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ADVICE

Coaches Must Understand Technology

Coaches must understand technology to stay relevant to clients who live in tech-enabled worlds.
Embracing technology helps improve coaching practice and meet clients where they are.

INSIGHT

AI Coaching Research Is Nascent

Research on AI in coaching is still in early stages, similar to where human coaching was 15-20 years ago.
More empirical studies are needed to understand AI's true benefits and applications in coaching.

INSIGHT

Rapid AI Advancements Change Coaching

Transformer AI models like ChatGPT have rapidly advanced capabilities in human-like conversation.
These models can outperform humans in some transactional coaching tasks but lack full human understanding.

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In this last episode for Series 3, Dr Natalie Lancer and our panel of experts, Sam Isaacson, Professor Nicky Terblanche, and Alex Haitoglou, delve into the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and coaching psychology. They discuss the critical need for coaches to understand technology, the nascent research on AI in coaching, and the rapid advancements in AI. We explore AI's capabilities in coaching as well as potential benefits, concerns and ethical issues. We discuss the importance of coaches adapting to technological changes while maintaining the uniquely human aspects of their practice.

We consider:

What is the impact of technology, specifically AI, on coaching psychology?
How is human interaction affected by AI?
How important is it for coaches to keep up-to-date with AI and technology?
Which are the technologies currently shaping the coaching industry?
What is the current state of research on AI and coaching?
How can coaches balance the use of technology and AI in their practice?
How can AI be appropriately integrated into coaching practices?
What are the risks, challenges and benefits of integrating AI and technology with coaching?
What are some of the ethical considerations around the use of AI in coaching, on which coaches may wish to reflect?
What are the needs and challenges for regulation of AI in coaching?

Our experts also considered future trends, including conversational AI and immersive technologies. We know that these AI and technological tools will play a significant role in delivering coaching at scale and enhancing remote coaching experiences. Therefore, adapting to technology is not optional; it is essential for effective coaching. There is a need for more research to fully understand how AI can serve as a beneficial tool for coaches and their clients.

Our guests today are:

Sam Isaacson is a coachtech thought leader, as well as a coach, coach supervisor and consultant. He writes a regular LinkedIn newsletter and has written several books, including How to Thrive as a Coach in a Digital World (Open University Press, 2021) and Superhuman Coaching (Hanwell Publishing, 2022). He is the founder of the Coachtech Collective, a global community of coaches grappling with technology, and works closely with EMCC Global on the development of thinking around technology and ethics. He is Chair of the Coaching Professional apprenticeship. Sam has experience in a disruptive coaching technology start-up and coaching in virtual reality.

Alex Haitoglou is co-founder and CEO of Ovida, has created the world's first AI platform aimed at enhancing the fundamental soft skills of leadership and coaching. Ovida's mission is to use AI and human expertise to enhance people and organisations' communication potential. In collaboration with academics, Ovida is used for training and research. This platform supports leaders and coaches in their growth by providing AI-generated objective data, video reviews for self-reflection, and expert human mentoring. Alex formerly worked with Procter & Gamble in global business roles and also led their global Grow Coaching programme, training hundreds of leaders and business coaches in coaching skills.

Prof. Nicky Terblanche is an academic, researcher, leadership coach, entrepreneur and research lead at Ovida. He is also the founder and CEO of CoachVici.com which creates AI Coaches for organisations. He has a Master’s degree and PhD in Leadership Coaching and a Master’s degree in Electronic and Software Engineering. He is Associate Professor of Leadership Coaching and Research Methodology at Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa. His research interests include leadership coaching with a focus on AI Coaching. Nicky has published more than 30 peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters and regularly presents at international conferences as a keynote speaker.

Your host, Dr Natalie Lancer, is a Chartered Coaching Psychologist, and British Psychological Society (BPS) Registered Supervisor. She is the Chair of the BPS’s Division of Coaching Psychology and an accredited member of the Association for Coaching. She is the host of this podcast series and invites you to email any comments to docp-tcppod@bps.org.uk

https://www.bps.org.uk/member-networks/division-coaching-psychology