With AI all set to radically transform over 1.1 billion roles this decade, a change in roles across diverse sectors is inevitable. This shift affects individuals from all sectors with varying expertise. In light of this, Manjula Nanjappa, the director for compute services at Allstate India, believes that embracing active coaching is not just a checkbox for organisations, but a strategic imperative to drive meaningful change and progress. 

“Every individual has great potential; coaching is just the process aimed at unlocking it,” said Manjula Nanjappa at the keynote of India’s biggest diversity and inclusion summit, The Rising 2024.

“Coaching is definitely essential; [it’s] an integral part of the organisation if I want to outperform and be a competent leader in the market,” said Nanjappa. She explained that coaching helps individuals recognise their blind spots and become better versions of themselves.

As companies strive to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving business landscape, integrating AI into coaching and learning and development (L&D) has become a strategic imperative. Karl-Ludwig Knispel, co-lead leadership, culture & development at PwC, said, “AI enables personalisation and increased efficiency that traditional methods cannot provide.” 

According to Knispel, AI technology offers innovative solutions. It can dramatically reduce the time needed to create content by automatically generating quizzes, tests and even entire learning modules. He explained, “Generative AI makes it possible to generate extensive simulations, presentation slides and interactive elements from just a few inputs.”

Nanjappa reiterated the same belief that leveraging technology such as AI in coaching is a key driver in enabling organisations to tap into the potential of their diverse workforce. 

Allstate India has invested in various coaching models, such as GROW and FUEL, to provide structured employee guidance and support. Nanjappa said she herself has benefited from coaching, overcoming her fear of public speaking through practice and guidance.

Measuring success

Measuring the success of AI-driven coaching programs is crucial to justify the investment and ensure continuous improvement. Nanjappa recommended setting clear goals and objectives, promoting a coaching culture, and tracking metrics such as improved employee productivity, reduced skill gaps, and increased learner engagement.

Implementing AI in coaching can be challenging due to budget constraints, an unsupportive organisational culture, a lack of leadership buy-in, and resistance from individuals. In such cases, Knispel advised organisations to analyse their specific L&D needs and use AI to automate administrative tasks and improve existing training infrastructure.

The future of corporate learning is undeniably intertwined with AI. Knispel predicts AI-driven tools will enable greater personalisation, virtual training experiences, and accurate assessments. “With greater refinement, these tools will facilitate the automated evaluation of subjective answers as well,” he added.

The business case for building a strong coaching culture is compelling. According to a study by the International Coach Federation, organisations with strong coaching cultures reported 61% of their employees being highly engaged, compared to 53% in organisations without strong coaching cultures. 

Meanwhile, another survey by the Association for Talent Development revealed that companies investing in comprehensive training programs, including AI-powered coaching, have 218% higher income per employee and 24% higher profit margins. Google, recognising this, has its AI-powered coaching program, which goes beyond learning a skill. 

As Nanjappa aptly put it, “We are in this mad world of competing with each other; you definitely need to put some method and a structure to it. Otherwise, we’ll get lost in this.” She believes by embracing AI-driven coaching, organisations can unlock the full potential of their workforce, drive sustainable growth, and navigate the challenges of the digital age with confidence.