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.
COMING JANUARY 2026
The ICF Annual Futures Report
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The Future of Coaching in Organizations
October 2025
Envision a future where coaching is integrated into both the culture and structure of organizations. How might coaching transform organizational potential?
The use of biometrics and neuroscience tools. While AI gets the spotlight often – there’s also some interesting companies investing in the science of our holistic health and how it’s tied to our thoughts and belief systems. If we are coaching the person and not the problem – then these tools and assessments can help us as coaches more quickly identify or explore the root causes of why the client may be stuck or how to expedite the success they’re seeking in their challenges and opportunities.
we live in a world focused on technology and the speed impact will grow.
Coaching is the niche that will be more about being human and being present; not being overrated or in hurry.
The impact will be more on mental health and on building sustainable behaviours than on performance and productivity.
The coaching profession will grow and it will count more doing work according to standards, with ethics, and scientifically-based.
organizations are view coaching not as an exclusive, high-investment intervention for senior leaders, but as a democratised capability embedded across levels. More companies are experimenting with team coaching circles, internal coach certifications, and leader-as-coach models. The next frontier seems to be the emergence of coaching culture-where conversations become more reflective, feedback becomes more generative, and leadership is expressed through curiosity rather than command.
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.
the philosophy and practice of coaching—shifting from individual-centered growth to a broader, planet-centered purpose—will evolve toward co-creating a better ecosystem through collaboration between human and AI coaches.
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.
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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.






















































