Why Most Coaches Are Using AI Wrong (And How to Fix It)

Last month, I watched a fellow coach try to impress a client by having ChatGPT generate their entire meal plan in real-time.

The client's face? Picture someone watching their favorite restaurant get replaced by a vending machine.

And that's when it hit me—we're doing this AI thing completely backwards.

The Great AI Coaching Myth

Here's what everyone's getting wrong: they think AI is supposed to make coaching more efficient by automating the coaching itself.

Wrong. Dead wrong.

The real superpower of AI isn't replacing your human touch—it's giving you more time and headspace to actually be human with your clients.

But let me back up. Because I've screwed this up more times than I care to admit.

My AI Journey (AKA: How Not to Do It)

When ChatGPT first dropped, I went full Silicon Valley on it. Had it writing workout plans, meal prep guides, even client check-in emails. I was basically the coaching equivalent of that friend who discovers cryptocurrency and won't shut up about it.

The result? My clients started feeling like they were interacting with a really polite robot who happened to know about macros.

Not exactly the vibe I was going for.

After some honest feedback (read: a client literally asked if I'd been replaced by a chatbot), I had to rethink everything.

The Human-First AI Framework

Here's what I learned: AI works best when it handles the boring stuff, so you can focus on the stuff that actually matters.

Think of it like this—you wouldn't use a calculator to have deeper conversations about math. But you'd definitely use one so you don't waste time on basic arithmetic when you could be exploring complex problems.

Same principle applies here.

What AI Should Handle for Coaches:

• Research and content preparation
• Initial meal plan frameworks
• Exercise database searches
• Draft social media content
• Administrative templates
• Brainstorming session prep

What You Should Still Handle:

• Everything that happens during client interactions
• Personalization based on client's personality
• Reading between the lines
• Celebrating wins and navigating setbacks
• Building trust and rapport
• Making judgment calls about when to pivot

The Setup That Actually Works

Forget the fancy prompts everyone's sharing on LinkedIn. Here's how I actually use AI day-to-day:

1. The "Research Buddy" Approach

Instead of having AI create client materials directly, I use it as my prep assistant.

My prompt: "Help me research current evidence on sleep and weight loss for a client who works night shifts. I need 3-4 key points with practical applications, but keep it conversational—no academic jargon."

This gives me solid information to work with, but I'm still the one adapting it to my specific client's situation.

2. The "Draft and Polish" Method

For content creation, I never publish AI output directly. Instead:

1. AI creates a rough framework
2. I rewrite it in my voice
3. I add personal examples and client stories
4. I fact-check everything (because AI sometimes gets... creative)

3. The "What Am I Missing?" Check

Before client calls, I'll feed AI the context and ask: "What questions should I be asking? What might I be overlooking?"

It's like having a second pair of eyes that's read every coaching book ever written.

Real Examples (Failures Included)

Let me get specific about what's worked and what hasn't.

Win: Using AI to research evidence-based approaches for a client with PCOS. Saved me 2 hours of literature review, gave me more time to actually plan how to present the information in a way she'd connect with.

Fail: Having AI write motivational check-in messages. They were technically correct but felt like they came from a wellness Instagram account rather than, well, me.

Win: AI helping me brainstorm creative solutions for a client who hated meal prep. It suggested approaches I hadn't considered, which I then adapted based on knowing her personality.

Fail: Using AI-generated workout plans without considering my client's history of lower back issues. The plan was fine in theory, terrible for her specifically.

See the pattern? AI excels at giving you raw material and broad strategies. You excel at making it personal and real.

The Tools That Actually Matter

Everyone's obsessing over the latest AI coaching apps, but honestly? ChatGPT with good prompts handles 90% of what you need.

Here's my simple setup:

Custom Instructions (the ones that actually work):

• "I'm a health coach working with busy professionals who have tried everything"
• "Give me practical, evidence-based information but keep explanations simple"
• "If you're not sure about something, say so—don't make stuff up"
• "Help me think through problems, don't solve them for me"

That's it. No need for 47 different AI tools and a second mortgage to pay for subscriptions.

The Conversation Problem

Here's something nobody talks about: AI is making us worse at having spontaneous conversations.

When you can always fall back on generated responses, you stop developing your own instincts. It's like GPS for your brain—super helpful until you need to navigate without it.

My rule: Never let AI respond to clients directly. Even if it suggests something perfect, I rewrite it in my own words. Keeps my conversational muscles strong.

What This Looks Like in Practice

A typical Tuesday using AI as my assistant (not replacement):

8 AM: AI helps me research intermittent fasting approaches for a client with diabetes. I use this to prep for our 10 AM call, not to replace it.

10 AM: Client call—100% human interaction. AI nowhere to be found.

11 AM: Use AI to help brainstorm content ideas for next week's newsletter based on common questions from clients.

2 PM: AI helps me draft a meal planning template. I customize it for three different client personalities.

4 PM: Client check-ins via text—all me, just faster because I'm not spending my morning on research.

See how this works? AI handles the background work, I handle the foreground relationships.

The Questions You're Probably Asking

"Won't clients expect AI-level perfection from me now?"

Actually, no. Most people are craving more human connection, not less. Being imperfect and real often works better than being artificially polished.

"What about clients who want to use AI themselves?"

Great! Help them use it effectively. Show them how to ask better questions, how to fact-check results, how to make it personal. Be their AI literacy coach.

"Am I falling behind if I'm not using every new AI tool?"

You're falling behind if you're chasing every shiny object instead of getting really good at the basics. Master one tool before adding seventeen others.

The Ethics Question Nobody Wants to Talk About

Should you tell clients when you've used AI in your prep work?

My take: If it's behind-the-scenes research and planning, no need to mention it. If AI directly contributed to their program design, be transparent.

Same way you don't need to mention that you used Google to fact-check something, but you would cite a research paper.

The test: Would knowing change how they feel about the value they're getting? If yes, probably worth mentioning.

Where This Is All Heading

AI is going to get better. Much better.

But here's what won't change: People need to feel seen, understood, and supported by another human being. No amount of artificial intelligence can replicate the feeling of having someone truly in your corner.

The coaches who thrive will be the ones who use AI to become more human, not less.

They'll spend less time on information gathering and more time on relationship building. Less time creating generic content and more time having meaningful conversations.

Your Next Steps (The Actually Doable Ones)

Want to try this approach? Start small:

1. This week: Use AI to research one topic you've been meaning to learn about. Spend the saved time on a longer check-in with a client.
2. Next week: Have AI help you brainstorm solutions for your most challenging client situation. Use its suggestions as starting points, not final answers.
3. Month 1: Develop your own custom instructions and prompt templates. Keep what works, ditch what doesn't.
4. Month 2: Track how you're spending your time. Are you using AI to create more space for human connection, or just to do more stuff?

The Real Talk Moment

Look, AI isn't going anywhere. You can adapt or you can get left behind.

But adapting doesn't mean becoming a robot. It means becoming a better human.

The coaches winning right now? They're not the ones with the fanciest AI setups. They're the ones building deeper relationships with their clients while using technology to handle everything else.

And honestly? That's way more interesting than trying to compete with a chatbot.

The future of coaching isn't artificial intelligence. It's augmented humanity.

So what are you going to augment first?

What's your biggest challenge with implementing AI in your coaching practice? Drop me a line—I read every single message (yes, personally, no bots involved).