Hidden Factor Makes AI Adoption Work

A controlled pilot revealed how four team-coaching sessions turned flat AI adoption into measurable performance gains.

At Colaborix, we partnered with a financial institution rolling out Microsoft Copilot to 137 employees. Two matched groups. Same self-guided training.

But one group got something extra: four Colaborix team-coaching sessions focused on psychological safety, peer learning, and real work challenges.

Eight weeks later, the gap was undeniable:

→ Confidence ↑ 22%

→ Trust ↑ 26%

→ +27 hours saved per person per year

And here’s the twist—usage frequency didn’t change. Coaching didn’t make people use AI more often, it made them use it more effectively when it mattered.

Why it matters:

Engagement drives business outcomes. Gallup’s meta-analysis of 2.7 million employees found that higher engagement delivers:

+23% profitability | +18% sales | –81% absenteeism

The business case (conservative):

→ Coaching investment ≈ $500 per person

→ Time value unlocked ≈ 27 hours × $72 = $1,944 per year (based on typical time value for knowledge-based professionals in Western Europe)

→ Payback period ≈ 3 months

What leaders can do Monday morning:

1. Pair training with team coaching. Build capability, not just awareness.

2. Track confidence, trust, and hours saved as leading indicators.

3.  Design for psychological safety so AI adoption sticks.

Eight weeks. Four sessions. Quantifiable results.

Colaborix | When AI tools meet team coaching, performance follows.