This post was originally published on this site
Coaching and development are increasingly among the most valuable contributions a manager can make to their team. In an environment where the lifespan of skills is said to be shrinking and AI is impacting workflows, employees “are in need of support more than ever,” according to Deloitte’s 2025 Global Human Capital Trends.
And yet, confidence in coaching is lagging—only 54% of managers feel equipped to coach for career development, according to performance management platform Betterworks.
This gap is more than a missed opportunity—it’s a retention risk. Betterworks data shows 75% of employees prefer to stay with their employer, but a lack of internal career development—often rooted in poor coaching—undermines that intent.
Many orgs are considering AI-enabled coaching tools, which offer scalable, 24/7 positioning. These have their place, but Dr. Marais Bester, senior consultant at assessment provider SHL, says that managers and HR leaders shouldn’t lose their employee coaching touchpoints: “AI can mirror back what you say … but it can’t yet fully replicate the empathy, nuance and real-world experience that a skilled human coach brings.”
Read more from related SHL research | The future of leadership: Elevating the modern manager
AI coaching plus human wisdom
Bester advocates for a blended
