AI is a Tool, Not a Replacement for You

Yesterday at breakfast I was talking to two colleagues about how we all use AI. Their faces lit up with excitement as they each described the time it was saving them from repetitive work.
The wealth manager Doug said Claude now built into his email was able to respond in what he described as “his voice.” He always carefully read the text and often edited words, phrases, and punctuation before pressing send. He said Claude is great but not good enough for his company and his clients without his oversight.

The private banker Scott was equally enthusiastic. He described how he used several AI agents for different tasks. He used TrendSpider to track the NYSE and Holly AI to act as a virtual trading assistant. He also commented that there is no substitute for listening carefully and understanding each client’s needs so that his advice is appropriate for that time in the clients’ journey. Scott also said like Doug he uses AI that’s built into his bank’s email system and also carefully checks each email before pressing send.

My use of AI differs from Doug and Scott. I am a clinical psychologist who is now a business coach and consultant. My coaching always blends my business experience with my clinical skills creating opportunities for the client to create changes in their behavior which over time can become new habits. Years before AI, I would take notes and then write my clients letters to reinforce the new behaviors the client had committed to do.
Now, in the process of coaching a client, I ask my clients permission to record all or part of a coaching conversation. I then carefully construct a prompt. With assistance from an IT expert, I have constructed a specialized version of ChatGPT to analyze coaching conversations that does not allow any data to be shared. I then very carefully edit what comes back for accuracy and clarity before sending it back to the client along with actions and commitments they have made before our next session. I also use AI as a research assistant as all of my leadership training and individual coaching is based on published science.
These are just three examples of how today AI is supporting but not replacing experienced professionals. There will always be a place for our experience and wisdom as we work with other people to express our empathy and deep understanding of the human experience.
Please contact me for complimentary, confidential conversations for anything you would like to change in your work or in your life: [email protected]; 310-948-3722.
Tom Drucker MA Clinical Psychology UCLA , PhD Work at Anderson School of Business UCLA, is a founding partner of Consultants in Corporate Innovation, transforming leaders and teams plus improving processes in companies big and small. He is also a managing director at Janas Investment Bank. Learn more about him at www.corporate-innovation.com and janascorp.com.