‘coaching’ will be not just a competitive advantage but an essential life skill (that will need to be taught and learnt consciously) in the years to come. Fundamental to building connections and relationship – listening, presence, building trust and psychological safety – will take center stage among the skills needed to thrive at work and in life. Creative Thinking, what we call coaching mindset – open, non-judgmental, curious and flexible mindset will be a differentiator in an AI-led world.

Coaching in organizations was once focused on goals and sales targets – but the rise of wellness programs and neuroscience research is changing business coaching. We no longer stop at the actions or inactions that produce results. Leaders are becoming more self aware of beliefs, thoughts, and emotions. My hunch is AI+ethical biometric intelligence+awareness of subconscious emotional brain states will be the elevation of business outcomes and shift clients to “be more” not just “do more”.

as a student coach in 2025, coming from a marginalized village in Africa where coaching was new to me, my understanding was profoundly shaped through training and ethical supervision which deepened my self-awareness, strengthened my boundaries, and reinforced my commitment to the ICF-Code of Ethics. This journey expanded my worldview and affirmed that ethical, reflective practice is foundational to effective coaching.

I am noticing more AI coaches and tools mix coaching with advising or consulting. Many coaches already bring expertise from second careers. Maybe the future is a hybrid coach—someone who mentors, trains, and inspires.

The broader adoption of AI coaching and a coach aggregator adoption will change the definition of coaching in the public mind from a reflective practice to a behavior modification practice.