Shaping the Future of Coaching, Together
Welcome to the Center for the Future of Coaching at the ICF Thought Leadership Institute—your futurist resource for navigating the next era of coaching.
Co-Creating Insights for the Future of Coaching
April 2025
Discover the ICF Thought Leadership Institute’s method for futures research and how our global community plays a vital role in this approach.
Organization will use coaching for mental wellbeing
AI will provide quick advice on HOW to DO practical things. I think people want a more personalized support for figuring out the challenges they are facing. Advice from family and friends, self improvement courses and self-help books often involve generic skills and tools that may more may not work. As coaching becomes more mainstream, accessible and affordable, I think the demand for live one-on-one coaching will grow as people seek to figure out how to tackle their unique wants and needs.
coaches could start using VR for things like leadership simulations or team-building exercises? I read about a tech company in Singapore using VR to train employees. It feels like this could bring a new level of immersion to coaching, especially for skill development.
with people working later in life retirement coaching could be huge. Coaches could help clients design new paths like starting a business or volunteering. Tools like VR might even let them test these lives first.
more and more clients want to be told what could be best, mentored towards making decisions and supported as they proceed with major changes. Generational gaps in competencies are real and the current framework will have to evolve as lines are being blurred between coaching, mentorship and consulting. I feel that we’ll soon have to get away from labelling and open the door to agile holistic coaching. Thank you!
What’s your hunch about the future of coaching?
We want to hear from you! Tell us your hunch and explore others from around the world.
What’s your hunch about the future of coaching?
We want to hear from you! Tell us your hunch and explore others from around the world.
How to get the most out of our website:
3
Share your hunch about the future of coaching and explore other hunches from around the world
Ecosystem-centered Coaching: Futures Thinking for Real-World Impact
In this 4-part series, discover how futures thinking can empower you to navigate the evolving role of coaching within interconnected ecosystems. Through our four-phase framework—Observe, Envision, Anticipate, Act— you will learn how to prepare for the future of ecosystem-centered practices, integrate AI and new technologies, and embrace ethical, holistic approaches that create real-world impact for you, your clients, and your communities.
Apply the futures thinking loop to coaching
Futures Thinking fosters a mindset that embraces change, encourages innovation, and empowers action toward desired futures.
Apply the futures thinking loop to coaching
Futures Thinking fosters a mindset that embraces change, encourages innovation, and empowers action toward desired futures.
Featured Wisdom Weavers
Get to know our Wisdom Weavers — global thought leaders, researchers, and experts in the fields of coaching, work, education, planetary ecology, and well-being.
Top Articles
Dive into this month’s top trending articles on the future of coaching
The Future of Education: Advancing human development through the evolution of knowledge
The Future of Work: Elevating views of work to center on meaning and purpose
The Future of Coaching: Activating human potential through reflective growth
The Future of Planetary Ecology: Casting an expansive vision for our living planet
The Future of Well-being: Sustaining holistic growth and purposeful living
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: Foundations for the Future of Work
Global Digital Library
Discover free articles featuring key insights on the future of coaching and its impact in the realms of well-being, work, education, and planetary ecology from worldwide thought leaders.