Article

Coaching 2.0: How to Level Up Your Game

January 11, 2024

|

Mark Boysen, Ana Pereira

Amidst the whirlwind of AI excitement, some of it is mere hype or the latest dazzling trend. In the ever-evolving realm of organizational development, coaching has emerged as a key catalyst for enhancing collaboration, adaptability, and purposeful growth. When the only constant is change, adopting an agile mindset and coaching towards collaboration, learning and flexibility is pivotal in steering teams towards sustainable success. 

As agile converges with AI and current market dynamics, there is an increasing demand for adept coaches to refine their approach, enhancing efficiency and redefining the perceived value they offer. Recently, while listening to the Lex Fridman Podcast and interview with Jeff Bezos, a thought struck me: if given a brief 10 minutes to pitch the concept of Enterprise Coaching to Jeff, what would his reaction be? 

Over the course of this article we'll explore the application of AI in Enterprise Coaching, highlighting the deep impact a coach can have on amplifying organizational success, and preparing you to convincingly articulate that value to influential leaders like Jeff Bezos.

The synergy between coaching and generative AI offers opportunities to enhance coaching practices, drive efficiencies, and provide unparalleled value to both clients and coaches. This article explores the symbiotic relationship between coaching and generative AI, covering fundamental principles, practical applications, ethical considerations, and future trends.

What Is Generative AI?

Generative AI involves algorithms that create new, original content from vast datasets. Think about spending hours or days researching in the library to come up with an original paper, and now having the ability to do that with a few strokes on the keyboard. This field has evolved from simple pattern recognition to sophisticated neural networks capable of human-like creativity. Technologies like GPT and DALL-E are benchmarks in AI's creative and analytical capabilities. Key players include OpenAI, Google AI, DeepMind, GrokAI, NVIDIA, and Antropic, each contributing to AI's accessibility and integration across sectors.

For those who might be pondering the question, "What exactly is generative AI and how does it function?"   We offer the following context that is outside the scope of our article for reference.

The Intersection of Coaching and Generative AI

graphic of ai in the mind of a person

Generative AI has the power to improve enterprise coaching by enhancing agile maturity assessments, aligning agile practices with organizational culture, and unifying consistency under a cohesive approach. This integration augments coaches' capabilities, enabling more precise evaluations and tailored strategies. 

AI's blend with human expertise significantly elevates the potential of enterprise coaching for impactful organizational transformation. The intersection of AI and Agile Coaching marks a new era in enterprise management, where technology and human expertise intertwine to redefine coaching and business agility. This integration ranges from human-driven coaching to AI-driven autonomous systems, enhancing agile methodologies and introducing innovative strategies. 

Levels of Integration

  • Human Only: Emphasizes human expertise using traditional methods.
  • AI Assisted: AI, like ChatGPT, aids in agile practices, such as backlog refinement.
  • AI Powered: AI plays a central role in analyzing data to inform coaching strategies.
  • Semi-Autonomous: AI becomes an active participant in agile teams.
  • Fully Autonomous: AI potentially operates independently in managing agile processes.

Making it Real: Use Cases

In the dynamic realm of ICE Agile Enterprise Coaching, the practical applications of AI are reshaping organizational approaches to agility and efficiency. AI is redefining the landscape for enterprise coaching by enhancing team dynamics, streamlining processes, and increasing the velocity and focus on continuous improvement.  At Naware, we've developed a suite of agents that mimic real-world coaching scenarios. These agents support and enhance various coaching activities.  

graphic grid of coaching
  • Artur, the AIGile Tutor merges agile training with AI's real-time guidance, speeding up the transition from theory to practice. This approach turns weeks of learning into minutes, marking a new era in efficient agile competency development. 
  • We challenge you to try the Greta challenge, a role-play scenario featuring a persona super resistant to change within a customer organization. Successfully coaching 'Greta' signifies a mastery in overcoming significant coaching hurdles. 
  • Greta provides the groundwork for agents like Orville and Roger, for insightful feedback and further improvement. Our experiences with Greta and Orville have been instrumental in uncovering new coaching techniques that greatly enhance coaching outcomes.
  • Kimmy, our planning agent, streamlines the creation of rollout plans by sourcing publicly available information like Modern Agile and videos on Management 3.0, significantly reducing the time needed for content creation or proposal development.
  • In the realm of Integral Coaching, Edith offers a unique perspective. By analyzing customer scenarios, Edith provides developmental line improvements, though it's a tool still evolving.
  • For those looking to refine their Elevator or Product Pitches, Torestie, a simulated Fortune 10 CEO, offers a realistic platform for practice. Convincing Torestie is a strong indicator that your pitch is market-ready.


Imagine taking the knowledge of the most effective agile coaching circles, speeding up the conversation and having 24/7 access– this is the power of Naware coaching agents. Custom trained models allow us to showcase the power of AI in coaching teams and individuals, assist in day to day tasks, and bolster stakeholder engagement. 

These diverse applications highlight the role of AI in agile coaching. By enhancing agile coaching practices and fostering team collaboration and organizational agility, AI's integration is proving to be a game-changer for enterprises navigating the complexities of today's dynamic business landscape.

Emerging Trends

cartoon of different graphs types

Highly Immersive Coaching and Training EnvironmentsOne significant trend is the rise of immersive AI experiences. These platforms will enable more engaging and realistic simulations, allowing for scenario-based coaching that can replicate a wide range of real-world challenges and opportunities. This could be particularly transformative in executive coaching, where strategic decision-making and leadership skills can be honed in simulated high-stake environments.

Predictive analytics will also play a larger role in coaching. By analyzing patterns in behavior, performance, and even emotional states, AI can offer predictive insights and proactive coaching strategies. This could lead to more personalized and timely interventions, enhancing the effectiveness of coaching programs.

Personalized Coaching: AI has the potential to create highly personalized coaching experiences tailored to individual needs, goals, and learning styles. By analyzing data from various sources, AI can develop customized coaching plans and strategies that are more effective and engaging for each person.

Real-time Feedback: AI can provide real-time feedback to both coaches and clients, allowing for immediate adjustments and improvements in coaching sessions. This can lead to more effective and efficient coaching sessions and faster progress towards goals.

Emotional Intelligence: As AI technology advances, we can expect to see improvements in its ability to understand and respond to human emotions. This will be crucial in coaching, as it will allow AI to better support clients in managing their emotions and developing emotional intelligence.

Integration with Wearable Technology: The integration of AI with wearable technology, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, can provide valuable insights into clients' physical and mental well-being. This data can be used to create more holistic coaching plans that address both the mental and physical aspects of personal development.

In Conclusion

As we stand at the precipice of what may be a new era in coaching, marked by the rapid evolution of AI, it is crucial to recognize that we are witnessing not just a technological advancement, but a paradigm shift in how we approach personal and organizational development. The past year has been a testament to AI's transformative power, moving from task-level assistance to potentially reshaping entire systems and domains. However, to leverage the value of these new tools, it is essential today to have deep domain knowledge.

Pivoting back to the contemplation about Jeff Bezos Podcast, envision a scenario where we have a brief 10-minute window to converse about “Enterprise Coaching his organization” with him. What might his reaction entail? Are we sufficiently prepared to demonstrate the indispensable value we contribute? Moving beyond the specific context of Jeff, consider this scenario with any high-level executive. Would you feel confident in articulating the substantial benefits you, as a coach, offer? In this regard, how might the advent of an AI Coach influence your approach?

As we step into this new era, let's ponder a profound question: How can we, as coaches and leaders, harness the power of AI to not only enhance our practices but also to elevate the human spirit, fostering a deeper understanding of ourselves and our potential? This is not just a question of technology; it's a question of our collective future and the legacy we wish to create in the world of coaching.

Elevate Your Learning

Join our community of agile learners and get the latest news and resources delivered straight to your inbox.

* indicates required
TAGGED AS:
Agile Team Coaching, Agile Coaching, Enterprise Agile Coaching, Enterprise Agile Coaching, Coaching Agile Transformations, Systems Coaching

About the authors

Mark Boysen | Naware, CEO
With over 11 years of experience as a self-employed professional, specializing in enterprise transformations, Mark has a robust track record of driving significant business improvements. That experience across industries, from startups to Fortune 50 companies, has driven Mark's passion for innovation and leadership. He recently rebranded his company as Naware, focusing on enhancing business growth, efficiency, and value by integrating Business Agility with a full suite of AI tools. Naware is dedicated to enhancing the impact and value of coaching in various domains. Part of the vision with Naware is to establish a more efficient and empowered coaching community that can adapt and grow with our innovative tools. Please sign up here if your interested in learning more: https://forms.gle/WYeCLkUNcj1WwqYH8
Ana Pereira | Whatever Consulting Group, Founder
As an Enterprise Coach, Ana helps organizations adapt and thrive in an ever-changing landscape. She is the founder of Whatever Consulting, a company that, over the last 20 years, has pioneered new ways of leading and working and has supported organizations in transforming into their vision of an innovative, agile organization.