Mediating Reflectivity: AI Coaching Conversations as Reflective Mirror of Relational Orientations

Abstract

The capacity of coaching conversations to facilitate reflectivity by helping individuals gain awareness and revisit habitual ways of thinking, feeling, and acting represents a fundamental value proposition of this developmental practice. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence Coaching (AIC) offers a novel opportunity to examine how technology-mediated coaching may stimulate such reflectivity. In this context, we conducted a qualitative exploratory study, analyzing coaching conversations between 20 leaders and an AI Coach. Our exploratory findings suggest that AIC may function as a reflective mirror, potentially surfacing coachees’ underlying relational orientations—instrumental or empowering. These orientations reflect distinct cognitive and affective schemas that guide how leaders interpret and respond to workplace situations. We propose that AIC conversations have the potential to mediate the development of reflectivity by surfacing coachees’ relational orientations, positioning AIC as a complementary tool for cultivating essential workplace competencies.

Keywords

reflectivity artificial intelligence coaching conversation leader development

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