The Craving for Human Connection Amid AI Advancements

Are we embracing an era where artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially replace the human factor in professional coaching? Today, we're diving into this hot topic, exploring the intricate balance between AI's efficiency and the irreplaceable power of human connection. As AI seamlessly integrates into our daily lives, enhancing everything from slide decks to content writing, we find ourselves at the intersection of independence and longing for human interaction, a sentiment amplified by the pandemic working conditions. Are we setting ourselves up for a similar craving in the coaching industry as we lean more on AI?

In the second half, the conversation takes a personal turn as we reflect on a chilling encounter with AI and job security. As we probe the changing dynamics across various industries and professions, we also uphold the value of human leadership. The significance of a leader understanding their team's aspirations, connecting, and fostering growth remains a crucial aspect that AI can't replicate. We discuss our AI tool called CoachApply, and its limitations in navigating human emotional intelligence, further highlighting the need for a human touch. Join us as we navigate the power of human connection in the age of AI.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:37

You know, we're starting to get the questions all the time, and the questions relate to AI. And when you think about artificial intelligence, we use it every single day. I use it for slide decks, I use it for content writing, I use it for even prepping for coaching sessions and coming up with different ideas. It is incredible. This is not about bashing artificial intelligence or degenerative AI. Now here's what's going to happen, and this is my prediction.

Speaker 1: 1:06

I think the pandemic taught us something about human beings. See, we all found out. Oh my gosh, our employees can do work from home, we can have reporting, we can engage with our customers. All of a sudden, employees at least initially many of them thought oh, this is so intrusive, I don't want to work out of my house. Oh my gosh, I don't have to drive into the office and I'm saving on gas money. This is awesome. I'm just walking down the hall to my new office, and that's called being adaptive, it's called flexibility.

Speaker 1: 1:38

Yet what happened during the pandemic is people started to crave people. What happened? We found out using tools like WebEx and Zoom, by the way, great companies, great tools. We still use them. We've been as a company for 15 plus years, we've been virtual. And there's the great company here in Wisconsin, titus Talent. That really kind of taught us how to go about being virtual and it really is an effective way of conducting the business. Now we're hearing hybrid, you know, half in the office, half at home, etc. Yet when that all came down, guess what we all wanted? We got to get back together, we got to be in person. That's where we're at, that's our value.

Speaker 1: 2:24

And what's happening is, if people stay on AI and we provide AI as a tool to coach employees directly or to provide coaching, I am not against that, I'm really not. In our platform, in our tool called CoachApply, we have an AI tool. Okay, with that being said, part of what we have to be very conscientious of, very conscientious of, is that AI tool sometimes can't navigate human, emotional intelligence, contextual understanding. What happens if the employee can't describe, or the leader can't describe, their situation very well? That's where we need to prompt more. And when you have an end of the year review and let's just hypothetically say and I've said this in prior podcasts, you know, let's say at the end of the year, you know something is brought up and oh, by the way, all the coaching, all the talent development. All the interaction was done through an AI machine, and the end of the year review reveals something which it always does where the employee is somewhat in disagreement. Guess what's going to happen? There's going to be a backlash. So we have to be very careful to not just jump from one end of the spectrum to the other. I contend that AI will prompt people, leaders specifically, to have even more need for human interaction. Here's why what's going to happen and we've had it inside our company, our little company Are we going to start using AI for all of our PowerPoint decks?

Speaker 1: 4:04

I had one where a friend of mine was an editor at a newspaper. She went in it was well over a year ago now and said is AI going to replace my job? And the boss said no, no, no, no, don't worry. Two days later she was laid off. He actually didn't know yet. That conversation resonated this past week in my daughter. Bridget was home and we were talking about everything and we were talking about her job at Cornell University and she said you know, it's interesting that I didn't go into journalism, which was my degree, and I said why. She said it's completely changing, dad. What I would have done wouldn't even be around in a couple of years and she might be right. So, yes, it's going to change some things.

Speaker 1: 4:46

Yet there is nothing more valuable than a leader sitting down with his or her employees and saying where do you want to go, what's your motivation? And setting up peer to peer relationships with a guy or gal down the hall, setting up observational coaching, handing a book to them in their cubicle with a note saying I believe you can become a great leader. I believe you should go into marketing. I want to help you. Guess what just happened? Ai will never, ever be able to do that. Ai will never come into your office and put a hand on the shoulder and say I can't wait to help you vault your career. I can't wait to help you get to your destination and hand them a book or send a email, a handwritten card in the mail to their home, saying I can't wait for you to go to that conference and experience what I know will excite you and energize you. Sounds corny, right? The fact of the matter is that relationship that leader to subordinate relationship, will be and continue to be sacred. Thank you.