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Dr. Friederike Redlbacher, expert in coaching with art
The modern world floods us with information. In contrast, a focused conversation between people creates clarity. This insight is as simple as it is timeless. Socrates of Athens expressed it in the sentence: “I cannot teach you anything, I can only help you to discover yourself.”
It will surprise most people how much coaching and mentoring has shaped the automotive industry from the very beginning. More on this in a later issue of this newsletter. But in this issue, we’re looking at the present, where we’re experiencing a new wave of coaching that may be a hint of innovation leaps ahead in the industry.
To get a better understanding of modern coaching methods, I met with Dr. Friederike Redlbacher, Managing Director of Symbolon AG. She explained to me the connection between art, wild animals and artificial intelligence as companions on a journey and how all this relates to contemporary coaching.
Welcome Friederike. Have you had a coaching session today?
Hello Steffen. I actually had my last coaching session three days ago.
Coaching is the better way to learn.
According to the DDI Global Leadership Report, coaching and interactive learning are becoming increasingly important for board members and managers. Focused discussions are taking center stage, while e-learning courses and videos are becoming less important. So coaching is very fashionable at the moment, isn’t it?
Friederike: Absolutely. We are experiencing a radical change.
In the past, coaching was not considered necessary, but now it is increasingly seen as an effective individual training measure. Having access to coaching is becoming a valued resource and a status symbol. Currently, coaching is often only accessible to upper management levels, executives and experts. However, in the context of transformation and new work processes, it is increasingly being made more accessible to wider teams.
However, coaching for all is not yet a reality.
If we look at the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, coaching fits in perfectly with the fourth goal of “quality education” and the concept of lifelong learning. The eighth goal, “decent work” with cooperative workplaces, can also be supported by individual and team coaching.
The time has come.
For coaching for all, it is important that there are enough coaches and that enough coaches are trained. How did you actually get into coaching, Friederike? Was there a particular life situation or event that led you to it?
Coaching increases self-esteem.
Friederike: I have a doctorate in business administration and specialize in organizational development. And I love coaching. I am fascinated by the moment when difficult things suddenly become easier and solvable and the coachee recognizes this.
Compared to counseling, where you are told what to do, completely different forces are released here. Coaching increases self-efficacy, expands your scope for action and helps you to discover your own potential. This can even be seen externally, through an upright posture or shining eyes.
It’s about having ideas and feeling the strength to implement them.
My wish is that coaching is increasingly used by everyone, and I am passionate about this.
Coaching takes various forms, from a “Ted Lasso Football Coach” to “Agile Coaches” who explain agile processes. Symbolon has a special method that uses art. Can you explain this in more detail? Why symbols? Why art? And what does it have to do with coaching?
Friederike: The term “coaching” is wide-ranging and not protected.
When I talk about coaching, I mean the professional coaching of working people to help them solve professional issues and develop new strategies.
Symbolism and art give rise to unconscious ways of thinking.
We have specialized in professional coaching with symbolism and imagery since 1996. In our coaching, we use works of art to address deeper issues. These images serve as a medium to invite the coachee to get in touch with their unconscious part.
Let me explain this using the iceberg model: The part of the iceberg that lies above the surface of the water is easily recognizable. We can talk about and look at various things on the surface. But if I want to know what has led to conflicts with superiors or employees, where the real issues lie, I have to go deeper. I have to dive in and look beneath the surface to identify any unconscious trigger points.
Bringing about this change is not so easy, as it involves unconscious issues.
You can’t just push a button and say: “Let’s look at the unconscious issues.” You need a medium to get there. And this medium is images, or to be more precise, specially selected works of art that address inner images and activate themes through their symbolism.
Inner images and themes can be activated by asking specific questions about the images.
This enables us to explore the coachee’s needs, attitudes, wishes and points of view. The picture serves as a mirror to reflect our own view of a specific work situation and to gain a different, better perspective.
I remember two pictures: a harbor scene with buildings, ships and people and a castle in a landscape. You asked me questions to find out how I see myself in the pictures.
Friederike: Our artworks have a systematic approach to depicting people and relationships.
They can clarify distances and positions. By looking at and locating ourselves in such a picture, we can already learn a lot about ourselves and our role in the team or project.
Visualization allows us to talk about topics that are otherwise difficult to put into words. It gives us new means of expression to communicate about our daily work and the goal of working better together.
The pictures are real art classics that are accessible to everyone. By putting myself in these pictures, I gain access to topics that I would otherwise not be able to talk about or access directly.
Artificial intelligence makes coaching as affordable as a haircut.
Let’s go one step further. You have transferred your method to the world of artificial intelligence. How did you come up with this and what are your experiences?
Friederike: At Symbolon, we have been coaching for decades using a special questioning technique that makes our coaching approach unique.
From this method, we have developed a tool based on AI that deals with everyday issues such as standstill or conflicts in the team. Potential is also recognized and activated.
We had a work of art made that shows 14 safari animals. The questioning process consists of five steps in which the coachee chooses an animal and reflects on its characteristics in everyday life, explores alternative paths and derives concrete measures for themselves. The process was trained by an algorithm to ensure safe and effective guidance.
We were surprised ourselves at how well it worked.
Our idea was to guide people to insights and help them overcome difficulties and take the next steps in their development. Now we have created a tool that is available at any time, around the clock, to tackle problems.
Steffen: You chose wild animals as symbolism. Was that intentional?
Friederike: The choice of animals was intentional, as all people have a relationship with animals and can resonate with them. The safari metaphor represents the journey to new insights and ideas. Animals play an important role in our lives, so it’s easy to make a personal connection.
You launched the product at the beginning of May 2023. Is there any feedback yet?
Friederike: Yes, we have already received very positive feedback. The AI-guided coaching process works and the coachees are able to develop new solutions. We have already heard stories from people about their positive experiences with the tool. Of course, there is still room for improvement, but overall the feedback is very positive.
How do you see the future? How can this be used in companies?
Friederike: We are in a new era of coaching with AI-supported tools.
AI-based coaching tools are constantly being developed and can support people with everyday issues.
However, there will still be a need for well-trained coaches who can tackle complex human problems. AI can help make coaching more accessible to humans, but there are also limitations as AI cannot recognize facial expressions, body language or emotions.
In companies, AI-supported coaching can be used in personnel development.
Companies can offer coaching as a service for their employees and provide access codes to enable support for any employee who wants to work on an issue. Confidence in employees is strengthened and coaching becomes accessible to more people.
It is a sign of appreciation to give employees 24/7 access to coaching.
Do you think that AI-supported coaching will be a matter of course in around 10 years’ time?
Friederike: My wish is for coaching to be as natural as cutting your hair. It’s not just about how you look on the outside, but also how you look on the inside. It’s about personal hygiene, well-being and being at one’s center. Coaching shouldn’t be an elite affair, but something that everyone can use.
Then the question could be: “Have you coached yourself this week?” And if not, then please go.
Friederike: (laughs) Yes, my last AI-based coaching session was actually on Sunday. Even after many runs and knowing every building block, I can still get involved in developing new ideas and surprising myself.
That is simply brilliant.
That’s also the beauty of the fact that technology makes individualized and experiential coaching approaches like yours accessible to many people. As a final question, what is your vision for coaching?
Friederike: In large organizations, people often lose a lot of energy through friction and unnecessary coordination that is not really part of the actual work.
Our coaching aims to enable people to get back to the work that motivates them and in which they generate real added value. This enables us to reduce losses such as frustration, fluctuation and lack of clarity. Coaching helps you to recognize what is essential for you and your professional task.
We want to enthusiastically drive forward topics that are good for all of us and the company, and ultimately help society as a whole. Studies show that coaching also influences social developments in the medium term. It is important that we take personal development steps, because this has added value for everyone.
My vision is to make coaching mainstream.
Thank you, Friederike, for an excellent interview.
Symbolon AG has specialized in potential and personnel development for international companies for 25 years. It has developed the image-based Symbolon Method®. Analytical and process-oriented companies in particular benefit from this coaching, as it allows them to make greater use of the reflective relationship level.
AI-based Symbolon coaching can be booked 24/7: https://www.symbolon-safari-coaching.com/
Image credits:
- Portrait F. Redlbacher the photo manufactory
- Harbor painting: Seaport with the Embarkation of Saint Ursula, 1824, Claude Lorrain, National Gallery, London
- Safari animals (detail), 2023, Thomas Moor, Symbolon AG
