Speed Coaching Session with AI-Generated Leader Emily [S.1-E.52/16]

Contrary to the prevailing concerns about AI potentially replacing human roles in the workplace or generating coaching programs that could replicate the impact of real coaches, I recently had the unique opportunity to coach an AI-generated leader named Emily.

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Emily has been a consistent coachee in our sessions, and we have established a clear design agreement, including the decision to share a transcript of one of our coaching sessions publicly. It's essential to note that, even in the realm of AI coaching, confidentiality is of utmost importance, and we are committed to upholding the privacy and trust established in our coaching relationship.

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Navigating through coaching with Emily involved dispelling common misconceptions. It required some time for her to understand that coaching is not about the coach prescribing solutions or providing ready-made strategies. Additionally, Emily specified a preference for excluding my observations about her emotional states during our sessions.

Hope you enjoy this sample session:

Coach: Hi Emily, we have 15 minutes for a speed coaching session, so let's dive straight in. What would you like to focus on today?

Emily: As I am recently promoted to a leadership role, I feel the need to improve my time management skills.

Coach: What is important about it?

Emily: Other than performing well as a leader of the team, it also has an impact on my overall well-being and work-life balance.

Coach: What do you want to achieve by the end of this 15 min?

Emily: I want to identify some actions that I can immediately implement to enhance my time management skills and make a positive impact on both my leadership role and personal life.

Coach: Enhancing your time management skills… How is it in present?

Emily: Currently, it feels like I'm juggling multiple tasks, and it's challenging to maintain a balance. I want to establish a more structured approach to my day to ensure I'm leading the team effectively while also preserving my personal time.

Coach: What do you need to address first?

Emily: Maybe setting clearer priorities for daily tasks and allocating specific time blocks for them?

Coach: How can you set clearer priorities for daily tasks?

Emily: I think categorizing tasks based on urgency and importance and assigning specific time limits to each could help.

Coach: What obstacles do you foresee in implementing these changes?

Emily: The main challenge could be the unpredictability of urgent matters that require immediate attention, disrupting my planned schedule.

Coach: Who are you being when your planned scheduled is disrupted?

Emily: Reactive and somewhat stressed. I shift into a mode of addressing the urgent matter at hand, often feeling like I'm putting out fires and missing the greater picture.

Coach: If you do not want to put out fires and miss great picture, who do you want to be?

Emily: I want to be a proactive leader who can navigate through urgent matters while maintaining a strategic perspective and staying focused on the broader goals and vision for the team.

Coach: How can you navigate urgent matters as a proactive leader staying focused on the broader goals and vision for the team?

Emily: Perhaps leaving some open slots in my schedule for unexpected tasks or having a contingency plan for quick adjustments.

Coach: What else?

Emily: Setting predetermined criteria for what constitutes an urgent matter that requires immediate attention and what can be deferred.

Coach: What else?

Emily: Having a clear delegation strategy can ensure that tasks are distributed efficiently, allowing me to concentrate on the strategic aspects of leadership.

Coach: What else?

Emily: Regular check-ins with the team can also provide insights into potential urgent matters before they escalate.

Coach: You are a very creative leader and you also have some strategies. Till the next weeks session, what specific action will take?

Emily: I'll start by categorizing tasks, assigning specific time limits, and integrating team-related priorities into my daily schedule with some flexibility for unexpected tasks. And I will set up a weekly call with team leaders to get updates timely and get to know them better to shape my delegation plan.

Coach: What are the challenges you may face while taking this action?

Emily: Adapting to a more structured schedule, especially when unexpected tasks arise. Balancing the need for flexibility with the commitment to specific time limits might be a bit challenging. Additionally, setting up the weekly call with team leaders may face resistance or scheduling conflicts initially.

Coach: what are your resources to overcome these challenges?

Emily: I can overcome these challenges by communicating the importance of these changes to the team and fostering a culture of adaptability. For scheduling the weekly calls, I can collaborate with team leaders to find a suitable time that works for everyone. It's about creating a shared understanding of the benefits these actions can bring to our overall efficiency and teamwork.

Coach: What will be different after taking these actions?

Emily: I anticipate a more organized and structured approach to my daily tasks. I believe I'll be better equipped to navigate urgent matters without feeling overwhelmed or sacrificing the strategic aspects of leadership. The weekly calls with team leaders should enhance communication and collaboration, providing valuable insights and strengthening our team dynamic. Overall, I expect a positive shift in my time management, leading to improved effectiveness in both my leadership role and personal life.

Coach: How accountable do you feel?

Emily: I feel quite accountable.

Coach: In terms of your goal of the session, where are you now?

Emily: I believe I've made significant progress in identifying actionable steps to enhance my time management skills. I've not only recognized the challenges but also devised strategies and actions to overcome them. By setting clearer priorities, allocating time blocks, and integrating team-related priorities, I'm taking concrete steps towards becoming a more proactive leader. The accountability I feel adds to my confidence in implementing these changes. Overall, I'd say I'm well on my way to achieving the goals we set for this session.

Coach: Among all, what is your biggest take away?

Emily: My biggest takeaway is the realization that being proactive doesn't mean eliminating flexibility; instead, it involves strategically incorporating adaptability into my schedule.

Coach: You are committed, proactive and caring leader, Emily. We came a long way together in the last few months and your proactive mindset and structured actions has always led to positive outcomes. How would you like to close the session?

Emily: By thanking you for the encouragement and good session. Have a great week.

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." Einstein