3 Reasons Why AI-Based Coaching Will Change The EQ Game

The human element is more important than ever

Discussion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in HR is often focused on how it might affect jobs: people often wonder if AI will lead to more jobs being lost to automation, how AI can be utilized to do jobs differently, or how AI investments can make organizations more productive in managing routine tasks and freeing up human talent for more complex elements of work. Yet, there’s another innovative aspect of AI in HR, and that is: how AI can improve and enhance executive coaching.
 

There are several reasons why AI-based coaching resources have the potential to be a game-changer in improving the EQ or emotional intelligence of today’s business leaders. 

1. AI Identifies the Right Resources for Coaching 

AI is already being deployed in a variety of channels in the workplace and in everyday life – everything from the voice-activated bots like Siri or Alexa, to the machine learning algorithms that help us find more relevant search results online or on social media. The digital world around us is using AI to learn and get smarter about what information is most useful and relevant to our needs, and this aspect of AI is valuable for coaching and executive leadership training as well! 

One of the biggest challenges for HR leaders is finding the right executive coaching talent to maximize the EQ of business leaders. Personal referrals and professional networking can only go so far; today’s executives often need a more detailed level of specificity in getting matched with an effective coach who has precisely the right expertise and personality traits to help with unique challenges and goals. The difference between an “average-fit” coaching relationship and a “best possible fit” coaching relationship can lead to massive differences in results and a much better ROI for the organization. 

2. AI Is More Emotionally Intelligent 

The future of AI is not just about automating repetitive tasks; it is becoming more attuned to people’s emotions. At the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show, there was a robot introduced called the Emotibot, an AI solution that has the ability to predict and sense human emotions; although we are still a long way from AI being equally emotionally intelligent to humans, this is a sign that the future of AI is going to be better at understanding emotions and anticipating people’s emotional responses. There are many possible applications for this kind of higher-EQ technology, such as developing enhanced customer service that is more attuned to the customer’s emotional state or creating human resources solutions that are more tailored to people’s emotional responses. 

In the world of executive coaching, the future of AI might include solutions that are more specifically targeted to the personalities of the coaching clients. When we know more about our clients on an emotional and personal level, when we can offer a higher-EQ solution to serve those clients, we can create a better fit between coaches and clients and ultimately help achieve better results. AI solutions for executive coaching are already helping to improve and refine this constant sorting process, and the more we learn, the smarter the technology becomes. 

3. AI Elevates the Human Element 

Talking about AI “killing jobs” is an understandable concern, but it’s ultimately not the right focus – every new era of technology brings disruptions, but also creates new jobs and allows leaders to focus on more high-value tasks. AI will be no different; in fact, a recent survey from EY found that 32% of respondents believe that AI will create more jobs than will be lost. 

AI will not make humans obsolete; if anything, it’s going to make the essential human elements of work – collaboration, creativity, relationship-building, emotional intelligence, and human insight – even more important. AI tools for executive coaching help make coaching relationships better-informed, more targeted, more precisely focused and productive. AI solutions can help executives and their coaches hit the ground running with better insights and a more comfortable rapport from Day One of the coaching relationship, and with measurable ways to track progress. 

The future of executive coaching is going to be powered and influenced by AI – but not in the ways most people might expect! The human element is more important than ever. And AI technology is getting smarter and more supportive on an emotional level in helping people achieve breakthrough performance.    

Author Bio

Chessa Eskandanian-Yee is the CEO of LeaderEQ. LeaderEQ is Artificial Intelligence-Based Executive Coaching led by Mother-Daughter Duo Chessa Eskandanian-Yee and Katherine Eskandanian-Yee. Leader EQ aims to inspire constant improvement for business leaders and their organizations. Connect Chessa Eskandanian-Yee Visit www.leadereq.com/  Follow @LeaderEQai