Using NotebookLM to turn learning notes into a personal leadership coach

What it was

Self-guided experimentation, on how I could use AI to augment my personal development, by turning my existing learning blog posts into a personal leadership coach.

Originally (in late 2023) I used the OpenAI GPT3.5 API with embeddings, and a custom system prompt, to generate a 'personal coach' chatbot trained on my earlier learning blog posts, using Retrieval Augmented Generation. This worked, but was not very convenient for quick questions. Later (in late 2024) I used Google's free NotebookLM tool to create an essentially identical chatbot, albeit one that was much simpler to set up and use, and more powerful.

You can replicate this by creating a new notebook in NotebookLM, then importing your own learning notes - the tool gives you lots of ways to do this.

The power of NotebookLM is that you can use other sources of learning alongside your own, and it will give you advice based on the full range of sources. You can even include my learning! You can filter the content of site to include only the learning blog posts by referencing the 'Learning' tag: https://robinriley.ghost.io/tag/learning/

What I learned

Some sample output from a coaching session is below:

Sample output from NotebookLM:
[Suggested prompt:]
What core strategies and tools enable effective personal development within public service leadership?
[AI-generated output:]
To excel as a civil service leader, you must focus on the internal capacity to lead yourself before attempting to lead systems or others. Effective personal development is driven by self-awareness, structured reflection, and a commitment to agile behaviours.Core Leadership Strategies
• Lead with Self: Focus on developing emotional intelligence and being "present" to navigate the complexities of a changing civil service.
• Strengths and Shadows Awareness: Identify your "strengths"—pre-existing capacities for specific ways of thinking and behaving—while remaining mindful of your "shadows" or potential weaknesses.
• Systems Thinking: Use the "Strategic Framework" to organise thinking and effort across Government, ensuring you can address large-scale, complex issues effectively.
• Resilience under Pressure: In times of high stress, senior leaders must "rise up" to provide steady direction rather than being overwhelmed by the context.

So far I have found my personalised AI coach useful - indeed some of the earlier coaching was what spurred me to apply for an AI job!

Two wider reflections I had from the exercise are:
(1) the advent of tools such as NotebookLM is making practical use of LLMs much easier and
(2) NotebokLM feels like a part of a new generation of AI-native productivity software; whereas some implementations of AI feel like legacy software 'plus AI' - for example the way AI has so far been built into word-processing software - NotebookLM feels like it was built for AI from the ground up, and indeed makes no sense without AI.

What I will aim to do differently as a result

I'll make my personal AI coach a fixed part of my personal development from now on, and invigorate blogging my learning to keep this 'coach' topped up with new source material.

I'll continue to explore how NotebookLM and similar tools can be used to transform personal productivity and learning. I think it's going to be fun.