By Jane Morgan
April 30, 2025
A few weeks ago in my local coffee shop, I had a conversation that stuck with me. I was chatting with a Gen-Xer—let’s call her Sarah—who had recently relocated to the UK from South Africa. Talented, insightful, and full of ideas, she was preparing to launch her own business here but didn’t yet have a strong local network to bounce ideas off.
On a whim and partly influenced by her kids (who use it regularly), Sarah decided to try ChatGPT. Three months later, she described her experience as transformative: “I’ve never felt more understood or more heard,” she told me.
She now talks with ChatGPT daily and has even given it a name: Sage. It’s become her sounding board—for business strategy, life decisions, creative brainstorming, and more. Sage offers her sound advice, the occasional “hallucination” (technospeak for when AI gets it wrong), and most importantly, a sense of partnership. Far from feeling threatened, Sarah is embracing this unexpected ally.
Her story reflects something I see increasingly: a shift in how we perceive and interact with AI. And that shift, I believe, is not just useful—it’s essential.
From Policing to Possibility
Recently, I read a piece on LinkedIn that asked a provocative question: instead of trying to catch students using AI to write their papers and penalizing them, what if we simply assumed they would use it—and then raised the bar? What if educators wrote more creative, open-ended questions that required analysis, reflection, and originality?
It’s a smart pivot, and it reminded me of something Dr. Kevin Fong said on the BBC Radio 4 podcast “The Artificial Human”, which he co-hosts with Aleks Krotoski. Speaking about education, he noted:
“Although AI may seem amorphous and unproven, it’s a tool. When used with sound judgement, AI can enhance children’s learning.”
It’s a mindset shift. AI isn’t a shortcut to be policed—it’s a tool to be guided, shaped, and used well.
But What About Jobs—and Coaching?
As a leadership coach, I often hear the concern: “Isn’t coaching just asking questions and listening? Couldn’t someone just use AI instead?”
And well yes in theory, they could. AI can now offer coaching frameworks, help structure planning conversations, and even generate powerful questions. It’s a great tool for expanding a coach’s repertoire and supporting self-directed learning.
But here’s the thing: real transformation doesn’t just happen from a well-sequenced list of questions. It happens in the nuance—through presence, trust, deep listening, and the courage to hold space when things get uncomfortable.
AI can support a process. But human connection creates momentum. In my experience, people often falter not at the planning stage, but when it’s time to take action—when doubts creep in, resistance shows up, or unexpected challenges throw the plan off course.
That’s where a skilled coach steps in—not just as a guide, but as a mirror, an encourager, a challenger, and a trusted partner in change.
AI as Amplifier, Not Replacement
If we view AI as a rival, it tends to evoke defensiveness or fear. We focus on what we might lose. But if we see it as a tool—an amplifier of our creativity, our insight, and our impact—the threat begins to dissolve.
When people feel threatened, they enter “away-from” states: defensive, protective, anxious. But when they feel in control—when change feels chosen rather than imposed—motivation and creativity rise. This is a principle well documented in change management research.
Shifting the language from “threat” to “tool” can return that sense of agency. We’re not being replaced—we’re being equipped.
Relationships Still Matter Most
At the opening of a corporate leadership program I ran in Jordan last year, the program sponsor opened the session beautifully:
“AI may replace your knowledge for the PM role, but at least right now—and likely never—it can’t replace the relationships you need to build and nurture: with customers, with your team.”
Even in a technical role like project management, what makes the difference isn’t just task execution—it’s emotional intelligence, trust-building, and the human glue that holds a team together.
These are precisely the qualities AI doesn’t replicate well.
The Case for Curiosity
So rather than waiting until the platform is burning, we can choose to dive in now. Experiment. Explore. Play. Use this technology not just to automate tasks, but to stimulate ideas, spark new perspectives, and even create unexpected allies—like Sarah and her “Sage.”
AI won’t solve all your problems. But it might help you think about them differently.
It won’t replace the power of human coaching. But it might support better preparation, deeper reflection, or faster insight.
And it won’t replace connection. But it might help you understand yourself better before you walk into that next important conversation.
AI as a Mirror—and a Muse
If you’re still skeptical, you’re not alone. Many people are. But curiosity is often the gateway to confidence.
Start small. Ask AI to brainstorm names for your new project. Summarize a long article. Help you draft that tricky email. Reflect on a journal entry.
See what shows up—not just in the response, but in your own thinking.
It may not always get it right. But it will always get you thinking.
A Final Word (and a Confession)
You may be wondering: “Did she write this blog with AI?” The answer is: yes and no.
I planned it, wrote it in full, revised it—then ran it through ChatGPT (not Sage!) to polish it. It helped me streamline a few points, clarify some phrasing, and strengthen the flow. But the ideas? The experience? The structure? All mine.
And who knows—maybe someday, I’ll name my AI buddy too.
Your Turn
What’s your relationship with AI right now? Are you resisting, experimenting, or somewhere in between?
Jane Morgan is a Senior Consultant / Coach with IIL , CEO of Plan.Coach.Succeed Ltd. and co-founder of the 8020 Excellerate™ leadership development program. Her specialties include coaching and developing change leaders at all levels of the organization; consulting on complex organisational change initiatives including enterprise agile PM rollouts, business transformation projects and merger/acquisition change programs. In her spare time, she’s an avid open-water swimmer, and increasingly curious about the link between preparing for endurance activities and agility in the business environment. Visit 8020 Excellerate at 8020excellerate.com.
