Coaching in the workplace: benefits, challenges, and how AI is changing the game

Introduction 

Much like athletes rely on coaches to excel in their various sports, employees need guidance to perform at their full potential and achieve their professional goals. Traditional coaching methods, however, are often hampered by scalability and cost, making them available only to a select few – typically those at the top tiers or organisations. Enter AI-powered coaching: a game-changing solution that democratises access to personalised coaching throughout the business. 

The transformative power of coaching

Coaching has long been celebrated for its ability to unlock employee potential, enhance performance, and drive organisational and personal growth. According to the International Coaching Federation, over 70% of people who receive coaching benefit from improved work performance, relationships, and more effective communication skills. It’s not just performance; coaching also improves retention, with a recent report revealing that 85% of employees feel more valued when offered career coaching opportunities. To further underline its value, an incredible 86% of companies report recouping their investment in coaching and more.

With its non-instructional, developmental approach that gives the coachee the space to think through and solve their challenges, coaching makes a measurable difference, whether that’s helping someone pivot into a new role, or guiding a new manager on how to delegate to former peers. And with organisations prioritising skills like critical thinking and leadership, the role of coaching is more vital than ever. 

The challenges of traditional coaching

Traditional coaching, which relies on one-to-one human interactions, has its undeniable strengths but often faces several limitations:

1. Scalability and cost – It’s labour intensive and expensive. At an average charge of US $244 for just an hour-long session, it’s no surprise that many businesses restrict coaching services to their leadership tier. 
2. Inconsistency – Different coaches varying in experience, style, and potentially even unconscious bias can lead to inconsistent coaching experiences.
3. Accessibility – It’s difficult for traditional coaching to cater to every employee’s schedule and location, and so employees in remote locations or those with specific accessibility needs often miss out, limiting the inclusivity of coaching programs. 
4. Time constraints – Coordinating sessions can be time-consuming for both the coach and coachee, making busy employees and managers less likely to engage. Furthermore, 27% of training now relies on on-the-job learning and coaching, adding to their workload. 

These challenges make it clear: we need a more flexible, cost-effective, and inclusive coaching model. Thankfully, AI coaching now offers us a solution.

How an AI coach can help overcome the limitations of traditional coaching

At Learning Pool, we’ve developed AI Coach, a generative AI-powered, chat-based tool designed to coach individuals at scale. Built on established coaching principles and leveraging advanced technology, AI Coach can help guide each employee towards building their skills and achieving their professional goals, whilst offering various benefits against traditional coaching practices. Let’s revisit the challenges above:

1. Scalability and cost-effectiveness – Unlike human coaches, AI Coach can interact with countless employees simultaneously and at a lower cost, ensuring everyone has access to high-quality coaching without overburdening resources.
2. Consistency – AI Coach offers uniform coaching based on proven methodologies, ensuring a consistent, objective experience for all users. 
3. Accessibility – Available anywhere and anytime, AI Coach is able to support employees regardless of their location and schedule. 
4. Time Savings – There’s no need for tedious scheduling – AI Coach is available on-demand. What’s more, when combined with traditional coaching within your organisation, AI Coach can make follow-up human sessions more productive and efficient. 

Imagine Sophia for example, a talented marketing specialist who excels creatively but often feels overwhelmed by her workload. AI Coach guides her through a structured conversation in a safe space, helping her identify time management challenges, prioritise tasks, and suggesting practical techniques like the Pomodoro Technique for maintaining focus. The coach also provides her with a downloadable, time-bound action plan to take away. This enables Sophia to complete tasks more efficiently, reduce stress, and even develop a more solution-oriented, self-sufficient approach as time goes on. 

In today’s competitive landscape, organisations can no longer afford to limit coaching to a privileged few. By leveraging AI technology, our AI Coach democratises access to expert guidance, ensuring all employees can thrive and contribute to driving organisational success.

Schedule a demo to see our AI Coach in action and how we can help you towards unlocking the full potential of your workforce.