From Beirut to Riyadh When AI Is not Enough for Leadership-Manuscript-Nadine El Halabi- Fadi Obeid.pdf

<p dir="ltr">This article looks at how leadership coaching is changing as digital tools become more common in the workplace. Drawing on real experiences from Lebanon and the Gulf region, we explore whether these tools can truly replace the human side of coaching or if something important is lost when we rely too much on technology. While these tools are useful for things like tracking goals, preparing for meetings, or offering quick tips, they often miss the deeper emotional, cultural, and personal layers that matter most in leadership development.</p><p dir="ltr">Through stories and examples from our work in Beirut and Riyadh, we show that coaching is not just about giving advice or improving performance; it is about trust, understanding, and knowing when to offer support. In cultures like ours, where communication is often indirect and personal relationships are key, coaching needs to reflect the human reality of daily life, including crisis, community, and tradition. Digital tools may be fast and helpful, but they can also feel cold, repetitive, or even out of touch, especially in sensitive or high-stakes situations.</p><p dir="ltr">We argue that the best path forward is not to replace coaches with machines but to combine the strengths of both. Technology can offer helpful data and reminders, but human coaches bring empathy, insight, and cultural sensitivity. By working together, we can build a coaching model that is both smart and human, one that helps leaders grow without losing what makes leadership meaningful in the first place.</p>