Alex Elberg,
Executive Director Supply Chain
“It didn’t try to solve anything for me. Instead, it asked what I wanted to think about and how it could support the quality of my thinking.”
Alex has just wrapped up the PLP development course with Group 5, and one idea has stuck with them more than most: Nancy Kline’s concept of thinking spaces and thinking partners. The idea that someone, or something, can hold space for your thinking without rushing or judging is powerful. But what if a thinking partner could be available anytime, even in the middle of a busy day?
Curious, Alex decided to experiment with Microsoft CoPilot. Before you picture a robot taking over human conversation, don’t worry. Alex wasn’t looking to replace colleagues or mentors. This was all about exploring: could CoPilot help hold a thinking space when no one else was around?
Step 1: Testing the Waters
The first step was simple: Alex asked CoPilot if it could act as a thinking partner in the style they’d explored in PLP, using Nancy Kline’s approach. And here’s where the experiment got interesting. CoPilot didn’t try to solve anything. Instead, it asked:
“What would you like to think about today, and how can I support the quality of your thinking?”
Alex was impressed. The AI not only recognized the theory behind thinking spaces but responded in a way that emphasised attention, curiosity, and open-ended reflection, exactly what they had practiced during the course.
Step 2: Diving into Real Thinking
Feeling encouraged, Alex started testing CoPilot on actual challenges:
Reaching a Difficult Decision
Alex: “I’m torn between two possible options.”
CoPilot: “What would you like to understand more clearly about these two options by the end of this thinking time?”
Preparing for a Fierce Conversation
Alex: “I keep putting off a tough conversation with a colleague.”
CoPilot: “What assumptions might be making this conversation feel harder than it truly is?”
Processing Frustration After a Meeting
Alex: “I’m irritated by a long meeting and frustrated I didn’t help the team resolve things faster.”
CoPilot: “What part of that meeting feels most important to think about now, without judging yourself for what you should have done?”
Across all these examples, CoPilot didn’t give answers. It held the space, asked thoughtful questions, and created a calm, reflective environment. For Alex, it felt like an extension of PLP, a curious, experimental partner ready on demand.
Step 3: Tips for Your Own Experiment
Alex shares a few suggestions for anyone curious about trying this approach:
- Start by asking CoPilot: “Please act as a thinking partner in the style of Nancy Kline while I explore something.”
- Use it to challenge assumptions or unblock stuck thinking.
- Treat it as a personal thinking journal.
- Ask for incisive questions when you need depth.
PLP gives us incredible tools for thinking, and CoPilot can make them more accessible whenever we need a space to explore ideas. Of course, nothing replaces a real human thinking partner—but experimenting with AI opens up new ways to practice reflection and curiosity.
Alex’s takeaway? Thinking partners aren’t limited to people. Sometimes, the most interesting experiments happen when we invite AI into the space and see what it can hold for us.
A Friendly Health Tip:
While CoPilot or any other AI tools can be a brilliant companion for exploring ideas, remember it’s still just a tool. Real human thinking partners bring empathy, intuition, and perspective that no AI can fully replace. Use it as a spark for your curiosity, not a substitute for connection, and take regular breaks to think, reflect, and recharge on your own. Think of it as adding a new colour to your thinking palette, not painting the whole picture with it!
Good luck experimenting!