The Uncomfortable Truth from a Researcher: AI Has Raised the Bar for Coaching with Prof. Dr. Nicky Terblanche

Nicky Terblanche is the world's leading researcher in AI coaching. He recently received the Anthony Grant Award for Research Excellence at the IOC Conference in Boston, named after the researcher who inspired him to care about evidence in the first place. A full-circle moment worth celebrating,

A former software engineer turned coach turned academic, he started thinking about the possibilities before anyone was paying attention. Nicky has spent the last seven years at Stellenbosch University building the evidence base for what AI coaching actually is, what it can do, and what it definitely can't.

In this conversation, we dig into his most surprising recent findings — including why a CBT-based AI chatbot outperformed both GROW and solution-focused approaches, why people actually prefer a slightly more directive AI coach (and what that means for the field), and why the bond you form with an AI chatbot matters far less than you'd think.

We also talk about the "Wild West" of AI coaching, the uncanny valley of digital avatars, the extraordinary potential of AI coaching in Africa and the Global South — and what coaches really need to stop worrying about.

What you'll take away:

• What the latest research actually shows about AI coaching effectiveness
• Why methodology matters more than the chatbot
• The surprising finding about CBT vs. GROW in AI coaching
• What personality type moderates your preference for directive vs. non-directive AI coaching
• Why Nicky believes AI coaching could transform access in developing countries
• What coaches need to do NOW to future-proof their practice

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Nicky Terblanche LinkedIn
• A design framework to create Artificial Intelligence Coaches
• Research Article: Comparing GROW, solution-focused and CBT coaching chatbots

Find out more:

https://vivalacoaching.com/vivapodcast/