Evaluating the effect of cognitive-behaviourally informed artificial intelligence coaching on the development of leader character: A mixed-methods randomised controlled study

When corporate leaders experience uncertainty, complexity and numerous other challenges associated with the current organisational landscape, they face difficult and even stressful decisions. Leaders often fail to live up to the expectations of followers, boards and the community at large. Lack of leader character is cited as a key contributor to the unethical decisions and poor judgements made by leaders when they fail. Character can be developed and as such, presents an opportunity for individual learning and growth. Organisations make substantial investments in leadership, with the development of leader character arguably a focus for leadership development initiatives. Leadership and executive coaching is widely regarded as an effective means of supporting leaders in developing their leader character. However, traditional coaching remains costly and is therefore accessible to only a limited number of individuals. Artificial intelligence {Al} coaching is emerging as a scalable and cost-effective alternative in workplace learning and development. Cognitive-behavioural coaching {CBC}, in particular, provides a structured framework well suited to Al-enabled delivery, while also fostering deeper awareness of leader character. Al coaching therefore holds considerable potential to democratise leader character development. Despite rapid advancements in Al coaching, its application remains novel, and no research to date has examined the potential of a CBC-informed Al coach to develop leader character, representing a knowledge gap that warrants further exploration. The objective of this study was therefore to evaluate the effects of CBC-informed Al coaching on the development of leader character. A further aim of this study was to explore participants' experience of the Al coaching intervention, as it relates to both technology and the effect on their leader character. To address these aims, the study adopted a mixed-methods two-phase design. The first phase centred on the development and preliminary evaluation of the CBC-informed Al coach. The second, and primary, phase examined the effects of the Al coaching intervention on leader character development through a six-month randomised controlled trial. This phase employed the leader Character lnsight Assessment as primary measure and was followed by semi-structured interviews to provide qualitative insights. This research contributed at theoretical, practical, and methodological levels. ln terms of theory, a novel process to develop leader character adds to leader character, and cognitive-behavioural coaching {CBC} theories, and the Computers Are Social Actors {CASA} and Designing Al Coach {DAlC} paradigms. Practically, the study has implications for professional coaches, Al Coach developers, human resources practitioners, leadership development consultants, and professional coaching bodies. On a methodological level, the mixed-methods design is not common in coaching studies and the practical application of such an approach will be of value to other researchers.

Grantor dc:publisher

Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Van der Walt, Liesl

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Terblanche, N.
• Van Coller-Peter, S.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135682

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135682