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.
The Future of Coaching is Well-Being
July 2025
Imagine how new coaching approaches can support well-being for individuals, organizations, and the community.
The industry of coaching is expanding still and while this is a great thing, one of the issues that may arise from this trend is incompetence.
I have participated in over 10 coaching courses in the last 24 months, and I notice an open-door policy on two fronts; firstly, anyone can make courses given the perception that the learning is academic. Secondly, there is no check on participants that may come to the industry light-minded and sometime ignorant of the values and responsibilities.
organizations understanding the actual nuance between coaching and mentoring according to the specific requirement for their leaders and teams. Also, if they look at this intervention more as a tick mark on their list or something that makes revisiting happen with more than one intervention. The define phase is crucial as to what exactly do they seek out of these sessions/ workshops.
as economic uncertainty rises and more coaches flood the market, many will struggle to sustain their businesses. I think the future belongs to coaches who don’t provide ‘cookie-cutter solutions’ but deliver strategic insight, deep emotional intelligence, and lasting change.
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.
The future of coaching is twofold: growing, globally relevant, and more needed than ever—yet also called to deeper transformation. It must move beyond technique and root in awareness, ethics, presence, and authentic human connection. Coaching should bridge inner and outer change, AI and human wisdom, performance and wholeness, how things work and why they matter. Coaching must cultivate ethical sensitivity as power, identity, and digital boundaries become more complex and challenges of our time.
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.






















































