Using AI for Reflective Practice in Coaching

A Mini Experiment by Alison Lawrence and Gill Maguire

AI is fascinating; AI as a coaching solution is fascinating and intriguing.

There are numerous articles weighing up the pros and cons of innovative business models using AI to deliver accessible and affordable coaching solutions. Given the increasing role of AI in business it seemed to us that there is more potential for AI than as a virtual coach or a tool to manage the admin.

The question we asked ourselves was How can AI support the human coach?

Specifically, how can AI aid in the essential aspects of professional development and continuous accreditation? After much consideration we settled on exploring how might AI help coaches with the day to day learning and growth of their skill and practice - reflective practice.

Reflective practice??

Reflective practice is the means by which coaches critically evaluate their practice, ideally after each session, considering what they do, how they do it, and how they can learn and grow. Finding the insights and lightbulb moments that develop our coaching skills.

The more we reflect, the better we become at reflecting; the better we become at reflecting the more we learn about our own values and behaviours.? In our coaching practise, these insights enable us to better service of our clients, to be fully present and with unconditional positive regard.? ?

Various models of reflective practice exist and underpinning all these models is the value of pausing, taking a moment to look at and analyse our own coaching interactions.? It is a skill and habit developed during training and accreditation.

There are a number of models to support reflective practice, and it is our personal choice as to which we use or how we go about it. It may be a quiet time spent journaling or more interactive time working through reflections in supervision or part of a group.? The challenge we have is making reflection part of our personal development routine. ?

The Challenge of Self-Reflection

The most valuable reflection skill is the ability to maintain objectivity and reflecting "in the moment" capturing the nuances of our responses and reactions that will lead to new insights and lightbulb moments. This is no small challenge.? Time constraints during the working day, even with time blocked between clients, can result in the loss of immediacy from the coaching session. Relying on memory and notes, plus the natural tendency to focus on one or two aspects, can lead to incomplete and potentially biased reflections.

This practical challenge sparked our curiosity and led to an intriguing experiment: can AI serve as an objective observer to enhance reflective practice?

The Mini Experiment: AI as an impartial observer

We know that AI tools can review data and information, for example mark school homework, short list job applications. On this basis we wanted to see if AI could be a real time, impartial observer of coaching sessions.

First, we identified a variety of freely available AI tools to review content and answer questions about it. There are many!

Second, we collated a number of (consented) transcripts of coaching sessions and non-coaching conversations.

Next we agreed on 2 sets of questions - a set of reflective questions drawn from available models and a set that took account of the coaching competencies (ICF / EMCC / ACC).

Finally, we asked the AI tool to use these questions analyse each transcript.

What Did We Learn?

1. Precision of Questions: The more precise or focussed the question, the better AI is able to analyse and provide a useful answer. While AI can distinguish if a conversation is coaching or not, the real value comes from asking specific questions, such as those related to accreditation credentials or the achievement of goals set during the session.

2. Tracking Progress: Using the same questions across multiple sessions allows for tracking change or progress time. It offers the chance to develop certain elements of coaching practice, perhaps by trying a new approach and observing its impact.

3. Practical Considerations: ?Recording sessions requires consent, and it is best done before the coaching session, clarifying the purpose and providing options for clients to have a copy for their use. Video conference platforms offer recording and transcript facilities, or mobile devices can suffice for in-person sessions. There are numerous freely accessible AI platforms available, making this approach to reflective practice simple, effective, and very low-cost.

4. AI Limitations with Ambiguous Conversations: AI platforms could differentiate between coaching sessions and non-coaching conversations. Simplistically non-coaching conversations had fewer nouns! Few nouns make it harder for AI to understand the content and purpose fully. This was both entertaining and reassuring.

5. Coaching session notes: a bonus insight!? ?AI was able to identify actions and next steps from coaching sessions. With all appropriate consents, clients could have copy of the full session plus an AI generated summary of actions and next steps for future reference.??

Conclusion: A Bright Future for AI in Coaching CPD

A vast array of AI tools is available, such as Teams, Petal, Adobe, and ChatGPT, capable of supporting reflective practice for continuous professional development. The key to a useful output is useful input. Asking focussed, reflective questions that are of value to you allows AI to provide objective observations and analysis.

While there is a broader debate about bias in AI, in the context of reflective practice, AI is directed to review the transcript only and not draw on other unconnected evidence. AI answered the questions we gave it using the information we provided.? ?

Our mini experiment sheds light on the promising potential of AI as a reflective practice tool, offering objective analysis and aiding continuous professional development for coaches. Using AI in reflective practice is simple, flexible, and accessible. As AI advances, it is likely to play a more significant role in CPD.

What’s next?

Join us for a curious conversation exploring how AI may help your own reflective practice.

You may be a coach leader or an independent coach or just curious – we’d love you to join us!

Using AI for Reflective Practice

Thursday, 26th September 2024 @ 12:00-13:00 GMT / 13:00-14:00 CET

AI for Reflective Practice Tickets, Thu 26 Sep 2024 at 12:00 | Eventbrite

If you have any questions please contact Alison Lawrence or Gill Maguire

Looking forward to seeing you then!

?#AI #Coaching #ReflectivePractice #CPD #ExecutiveCoaching #Supervision