From my associate, Grant Tate.
“How are you using A.I. in your executive coaching business?” Tom asked.
“I’m experimenting,” I said, “but there’s so much more I could do.”
We were talking in a live video session with the Chaotic Confluence community — an online group of coaches and professionals exploring how A.I. is changing our work.
Tom leaned forward. “I can see A.I. revolutionizing the business. You’ve probably heard about bots doing therapy sessions by voice or video.”
“Sure,” I said. “Of course, we don’t do therapy, and no one wants robotic coaching. But A.I. can definitely help us in otherways.”
“Like taking notes or drafting follow-up emails?” Tom offered. “That alone would save me hours.”
“Exactly. But it can go much further. Imagine creating a virtual model of your client — a digital twin that mirrors their personality, goals, and learning style. With that, A..I could help design a coaching process uniquely tailored to that person.”
Tom raised an eyebrow. “Really? Tell me more.”
“With clever design, that model becomes predictive — it can simulate how a client might respond or what motivates them. A.I. tools can draw on assessments, your notes, client forms, and even public information from the web. For most executives or entrepreneurs, there’s a surprising amount of data out there. Public interviews, company websites, LinkedIn profiles — all of it helps fill in the picture.”
“Wait — public records?”
“Yes,” I said. “Most people promote themselves online. If you Google a client before your first session, you’re already gathering data. A.I. just does it faster and more comprehensively.”
Tom nodded. “Makes sense. But I still rely on my interviews and notes. That’s where the real insight comes from.”
“Exactly. You’d combine that personal material with the public data. Each time you add something — new notes, a client update — A.I. learns more and refines the model. It’s like having an assistant who remembers everything.”
Tom squinted a bit, uneasy. “That sounds powerful, but…coaching must be private. How do we make sure client information stays secure?”
“Ah,” I said. “Now we’re getting to the heart of it.”
Setting Boundaries with A.I.
“First,” I said, “every coach using A.I. needs a clear set of ethics and guidelines. Clients should know if you’re using A.I. to generate exercises, summaries, or feedback. They deserve to know what data you’re collecting — and how you’ll protect it.”
“Fair,” Tom said. “And the tools we use?”
“Exactly. Be sure your A.I. platform doesn’t use your data to train future models. For example, the free and basic paid versions of ChatGPT allow that unless you opt out. The team version, though, gives you more control. The key is to read the fine print. Know how your prompts and outputs are stored or shared.”
Tom jotted a note. “So if I’m cautious, I should anonymize client data?”
“Yes. Replace names with pseudonyms. Many A.I. tools let you delete individual chats when you’re done — use that feature. And if you want to continue a thread but stay secure, copy your notes elsewhere, delete the chat, and start fresh.”
He laughed. “A little clunky, but I get it.”
“True. But it’s worth the peace of mind. And remember — A.I. systems with memory features can retain what you’ve deleted, so if A.I. makes a mistake or ‘hallucinates,’ correct it. You can literally tell it, ‘Forget this,’ or ‘That fact was wrong — here’s the right one.’
Treat it like a diligent intern with a perfect memory and a short attention span.”
Tom grinned. “That’s a good image. And you’re right — we already manage confidentiality in other ways: phone, Zoom, email. A.I. is just another channel that requires discipline.”
“Exactly,” I said. “In-person meetings in a secure space are still the most private, but A.I. lets us reach people across the globe. Our reach expands —but so must our integrity.”
Tom leaned back, thoughtful. “So A.I. isn’t replacing what we do — it’s amplifying it.”
“Precisely,” I said. “A.I. can extend our insight, but trust remains the bridge between technology and transformation.”
Final Reflection
A.I. doesn’t make coaching less human. It challenges us to be more intentional about the human side — empathy, ethics, and authenticity.
The technology may be new, but the responsibility is timeless.
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