Artificial intelligence is transforming every industry, and coaching is no exception. But unlike fields where AI threatens to replace humans, coaching AI works alongside you—handling administrative tasks, surfacing insights, and freeing you to focus on what matters: the human connection.

What AI Can (and Can't) Do for Coaches

Let's be clear about AI's role. AI excels at:

  • Processing large amounts of data quickly
  • Identifying patterns across sessions and clients
  • Drafting communications based on context
  • Summarizing lengthy content
  • Suggesting areas to explore

AI cannot replace:

  • Genuine human empathy and presence
  • Intuition built from years of experience
  • The coaching relationship itself
  • Ethical judgment in complex situations

Think of AI as a highly capable assistant who never sleeps, never forgets, and can process information faster than humanly possible—but still needs your wisdom to guide the work.

5 Ways AI Transforms Daily Coaching Work

1. Session Preparation

Before each session, Stronghold's AI assistant (Macy) can generate a briefing that includes:

  • Summary of the previous session
  • Progress on stated goals
  • Assessment highlights and patterns
  • Suggested topics to explore
  • Communication history since last session

What used to take 15 minutes of reviewing notes now takes 30 seconds of reading a briefing.

2. Session Summaries

After video sessions, AI can transcribe the conversation and generate structured summaries including:

  • Key themes discussed
  • Commitments made by the client
  • Action items and homework
  • Emotional tone and shifts
  • Follow-up topics for next session

You stay present during sessions instead of frantically taking notes. The AI captures everything.

3. Communication Drafting

Need to send a follow-up email? Check in with a client who's gone quiet? Respond to a prospect inquiry? AI can draft contextual messages based on:

  • Your communication style
  • The client's history and preferences
  • The specific situation

You review, tweak if needed, and send. A task that took 10 minutes now takes 2.

4. Pattern Recognition

AI excels at spotting patterns humans might miss. Across your client base, AI can identify:

  • Common obstacles clients face
  • Which interventions correlate with progress
  • Clients who may be at risk of dropping off
  • Assessment score trends over time

This intelligence helps you intervene proactively rather than reactively.

5. Content Creation

Building your practice requires content: emails, social posts, worksheets, proposals. AI can help generate:

  • First drafts of coaching materials
  • Personalized proposals based on discovery calls
  • Email sequences for onboarding
  • Social media content ideas

Getting Started with AI in Stronghold

Stronghold's AI assistant Macy is available throughout the platform. Here's how to use it:

Access Macy

Click the AI button (brain icon) in the bottom right corner of any screen. Macy opens in a chat interface where you can ask questions or request help.

Ask for Briefings

Before a session, ask: "Give me a briefing on [Client Name]." Macy will compile everything relevant from their profile, assessments, and history.

Draft Messages

From a client profile, click "Draft Message" and describe what you need. Macy generates a draft you can edit and send.

Analyze Patterns

Ask Macy questions like: "What are the common themes across my clients this month?" or "Which clients haven't booked a session in 30 days?"

AI Ethics in Coaching

A few important considerations:

  • Transparency - Consider letting clients know you use AI tools for admin tasks
  • Review everything - AI can make mistakes; always review before sending
  • Protect privacy - Use AI systems that keep client data secure (like Stronghold)
  • Maintain the human element - AI assists your coaching; it doesn't replace your judgment

The Competitive Advantage

Coaches who leverage AI effectively can serve more clients without sacrificing quality. They spend less time on admin and more time on high-value coaching work. They catch patterns earlier and intervene more effectively.

AI isn't the future of coaching—it's the present. The question isn't whether to use it, but how quickly you can integrate it into your practice.