Spark is an always-on AI support experience that helps you think through challenging work situations, practice conversations, and build leadership capacities in the flow of work.
You can use Spark:
Between live coaching sessions, if you’re working with a Torch coach
As a standalone leadership support tool, even if you’re not in a coaching program
Spark is available 24/7 through the Torch platform.
How you can work with Spark
Spark supports leadership development through coaching-style conversations and practice.
Coaching chats for real work situations
You can use Spark for back-and-forth conversations through text or voice to work through situations as they arise.
Examples include:
Preparing for a difficult meeting with a colleague or stakeholder
Working through resistance to a change you need to lead
Clarifying how to give feedback without damaging trust
Thinking through a decision where priorities or expectations are unclear
Reflecting on a challenging interaction and deciding how to follow up
Most conversations take 5–10 minutes. This helps you get quick clarity and identify actions you can apply immediately.
In these conversations, Spark asks clarifying questions, helps you explore different approaches, and supports you in identifying practical next steps. You can return to conversations over time, and Spark builds on prior discussions to keep support relevant.
You can interact with Spark by typing or using voice. Both options use the same underlying system, with the same context and privacy standards.
Practice real conversations through role-play
You can also use Spark to practice high-stakes conversations through guided role-play simulations.
Role-play allows you to rehearse a situation before it happens and adjust your approach based on feedback.
Examples of role-play scenarios include:
Giving feedback on communication, such as interrupting or dominating discussions
Navigating a performance conversation about missed deadlines
Communicating an upcoming change to a resistant team member
Receiving feedback from your manager
Coaching a direct report through disengagement or conflict
Spark includes a growing library of role-play scenarios covering feedback, change, conflict, performance, and career conversations.
Learn more about role-play simulations with Spark.
360 Feedback
If your organization has elected to include 360 Feedback into your Spark experience, you will find access to this feature in the left-hand navigation of the Spark dashboard.
360 Feedback gives you structured input from the people you work with, including your manager and colleagues, to help you reflect on your leadership strengths and growth areas. You’ll start by answering a short set of self-reflection questions, then invite others to share feedback on your leadership.
You can access 360 Feedback directly from Spark. Once you submit your self-reflection, you’ll invite feedback providers and track responses until your results are ready to review. Then, you can work with Spark to debrief your results.
Learn more about 360 Feedback here.
How Spark works
Spark supports leadership development through coaching-style conversations and practice.
Grounded in your organizational context
Spark is aware of the leadership capacities and organizational goals your company has prioritized for development.
Spark may also draw on organizational context your company has chosen to share, such as values, goals, or other high-level information. This helps frame conversations in ways that reflect what matters in your organization.
Spark does not monitor activity or access confidential company information. Organizational context is used only to support development conversations.
Continuity over time
As you use Spark, it builds context from your conversations to better understand your role, focus areas, and recurring challenges.
This helps avoid starting from scratch each time while keeping individual conversations private.
Privacy and security
Spark is designed to support development while protecting your privacy.
How your data is handled
Conversations with Spark are transcribed and securely stored.
Audio recordings are not stored.
Spark does not access personal information from live coaching sessions.
For more information see Torch’s security and privacy policies.
What your organization can see
Your company admins and Torch can see:
Coaching activity, such as when you interacted with Spark and for how long
Aggregated insights, including high-level themes across many users
For example, if many participants are discussing topics like executive presence or managing change, those themes may appear in aggregated reporting. Individual conversations and identities are never visible.
Aggregated insights are shared only when at least three people are using Spark at the same organizational, functional, or team level.
What is never shared
Your company admins cannot see:
Conversation transcripts or quotes
Individual conversation details
Anything that personally identifies you
This information is never shared.
Getting started with Spark
You can start using Spark right away.
Log into Torch.
On the Spark AI dashboard, click the Talk with Spark button to begin a voice-to-voice conversation or click the Chat with Spark button to begin a text-based conversation.
If you choose Talk with Spark, you’ll be prompted to allow microphone access. Microphone availability depends on your device settings and your organization’s permissions. If microphone access isn’t available, you can continue using Spark through text chat.
FAQs
Can my manager or HR see my Spark conversations?
No. Individual Spark conversations are confidential. Your organization only sees anonymized, aggregated themes across multiple users, and only when those themes appear broadly enough to protect privacy.
How is Spark different from live coaching?
Spark provides short, on-demand coaching chats and role-play practice to support reflection and decision-making in the moment. Live coaching with a Torch coach offers continuity, relationship, and deeper understanding over time. Spark complements live coaching but does not replace it.
What if I'm not in a live coaching program?
You can still use Spark as a meaningful support for your leadership development. Many participants use Spark to work through challenges, prepare for conversations, and reflect on feedback as situations arise.
If you complete Torch 360 Feedback, Spark can help you process the feedback from your peers by reflecting on themes and identifying practical ways to apply what you’ve learned.