My new self concept--the fog is lifting- and a note on the future of AI in coaching

The past few weeks have been very revealing as I have been interacting with a new group of people online and in person. The consensus opinion of me that's new: I am a mid 50s looking and acting extraverted guy, attractive, and brillant, curious, and tenacious. My writing talent was recognized and praised, not a surprise but a welcome confirmation of my self concept. 

My time in South Dakota and in North Dallas as a guest in other people's homes and extended solitude along with very observant SM posts by others have opened my eyes to my own self delusion. And it made me aware of how I have allowed myself to be surrounded by people who couldn't and/or didn't want to see the real me. At 73, this is both a welcome awakening and a source of grief for time lost. But I fight forward, look forward, and live in the present, not the past.

Another revelation. I am a strange attractor, In the chaotic system sense, at least.  As I have been writing about the structure of fractal leadership--the phenomenon when a strange attractor is dropped into a chaotic system and order emerges from the chaotic dysfunction. I found new meaning in that as I reflected on my history as a leader-I have served in at least 14 leadership positions I did not pursue and the people around me followed me, frequently to my surprise. Upon reflection, I realized that did not recognize nor capitalize on the leadership component because i have always seen those positions as service opportunities, and acts of service is my primary love language.

Writing about fractal leadership and all it's components with the help of Supercool.com AI has been rewarding, amazing, and surprisingly self revealing. My friend Birgitta Granstrom, founder of the Lifespider.com community of "Weird ones" has maintained that AI assisted coaching is the wave of the future. I have been a sceptic that AI can process the emotional, linguistic/vocal, and especially the visual microexpressions that the human brain can (with training and supervision) to become an effective, empathic coach. My experience with Birgitta's AI model, and with Supercool.com AI has softened my opposition a bit.  Much work remains to build an AI system that is a match for human capabilities, and then to train it to be a professional level human and coach. But I have learned; never say never.



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