Exploring Trends and Technologies Shaping the Coaching Industry in 2025

Hello, Opportunity!

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New year, new shifts? From return-to-office mandates and modified hybrid work policies to remote-only transformations, organizations are undergoing significant shifts. Executives and leaders across industries must navigate these shifts in real time. As an executive coach, you play a crucial role in supporting these individuals.

New year, new shifts? From return-to-office mandates and modified hybrid work policies to remote-only transformations, organizations are undergoing significant shifts. Executives and leaders across industries must navigate these shifts in real time. As an executive coach, you play a crucial role in supporting these individuals.

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One of the key organizational shifts affecting professionals involves “work location.” These shifts hold significant importance to the subset of professionals—the people you may coach—who have remote-capable roles. In a 2024 survey of US full-time, remote-capable employees, Gallup found that 53 percent prefer a hybrid approach to work, and 27 percent prefer an exclusively remote work arrangement. Consider if up to 80 percent of coaching clients received coaching virtually from their homes or chosen work environments.

One of the key organizational shifts affecting professionals involves “work location.” These shifts hold significant importance to the subset of professionals—the people you may coach—who have remote-capable roles. In a 2024 survey of US full-time, remote-capable employees, Gallup found that 53 percent prefer a hybrid approach to work, and 27 percent prefer an exclusively remote work arrangement. Consider if up to 80 percent of coaching clients received coaching virtually from their homes or chosen work environments.

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This is an opportunity for you as an executive coach to leverage technology to better serve executives and leaders. With never-ending organizational shifts and a hybrid or remote preference of remote-capable employees, now is the time for executive coaches to lean into the future of coaching. Let’s dive into the trends and technologies shaping the coaching industry in 2025.

This is an opportunity for you as an executive coach to leverage technology to better serve executives and leaders. With never-ending organizational shifts and a hybrid or remote preference of remote-capable employees, now is the time for executive coaches to lean into the future of coaching. Let’s dive into the trends and technologies shaping the coaching industry in 2025.

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How have organizational policy shifts around work location affected your coaching practice?

How have organizational policy shifts around work location affected your coaching practice?

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What percentage of your coaching sessions do you currently conduct virtually?

What percentage of your coaching sessions do you currently conduct virtually?

Two Technologies Transforming the Business of Coaching

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1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Executive Coaches

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Executive Coaches

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Have you ever used artificial intelligence (AI) before? Have you ever entered a prompt into a tool like ChatGPT? On the business side of being an executive coach, consider your daily or monthly checklists—from emails to schedules to meetings. Think about the past year. How did you utilize your work time? What tasks took way too much time? What tasks do you dread? What business activities take up too much time or tasks you may find tedious? A few tasks that come to mind may be automating messages (where appropriate), scheduling assistance, appointment confirmations, or drafting marketing materials.

Have you ever used artificial intelligence (AI) before? Have you ever entered a prompt into a tool like ChatGPT? On the business side of being an executive coach, consider your daily or monthly checklists—from emails to schedules to meetings. Think about the past year. How did you utilize your work time? What tasks took way too much time? What tasks do you dread? What business activities take up too much time or tasks you may find tedious? A few tasks that come to mind may be automating messages (where appropriate), scheduling assistance, appointment confirmations, or drafting marketing materials.

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I invite you to research AI tools that may alleviate the time you spend on those tasks. AI tools may free up some of your time, allowing you to invest that time into coaching or strengthening your coaching practice. Many AI tools provide free or trial versions for people to test the waters. Another approach is to look at the software you already utilize as an executive coach. From LinkedIn to Zoom to HubSpot—technologies you may already use are continuously rolling out AI integrations.

I invite you to research AI tools that may alleviate the time you spend on those tasks. AI tools may free up some of your time, allowing you to invest that time into coaching or strengthening your coaching practice. Many AI tools provide free or trial versions for people to test the waters. Another approach is to look at the software you already utilize as an executive coach. From LinkedIn to Zoom to HubSpot—technologies you may already use are continuously rolling out AI integrations.

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From the business side of coaching, how might you maximize your time this year by leveraging AI in new ways?

From the business side of coaching, how might you maximize your time this year by leveraging AI in new ways?

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2. Digital Platform for Scaling Coaching Operations

2. Digital Platform for Scaling Coaching Operations

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From an operational perspective, how do you deliver coaching experiences to your clients? Some executive coaches focus only on in-person services, some offer a mix of in-person and virtual offerings, and others focus solely on virtual coaching. As the coaching industry leans into supporting executives and leaders who work in hybrid settings or remote organizations, there is a real opportunity to scale your coaching practice from an operational perspective.

From an operational perspective, how do you deliver coaching experiences to your clients? Some executive coaches focus only on in-person services, some offer a mix of in-person and virtual offerings, and others focus solely on virtual coaching. As the coaching industry leans into supporting executives and leaders who work in hybrid settings or remote organizations, there is a real opportunity to scale your coaching practice from an operational perspective.

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Depending on the size of your practice or the type of organization you work for, investing in a digital coaching platform may make sense. For some, that may mean becoming a provider on an existing platform. For others, there is a business value in scaling services for clients working in hybrid and remote environments.

Depending on the size of your practice or the type of organization you work for, investing in a digital coaching platform may make sense. For some, that may mean becoming a provider on an existing platform. For others, there is a business value in scaling services for clients working in hybrid and remote environments.

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What technologies will support the scaling of your executive coaching from an operational perspective this year?

What technologies will support the scaling of your executive coaching from an operational perspective this year?

Trends Shifting the Delivery of Coaching

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1. Virtual Reality (VR) for Executive Coaches

1. Virtual Reality (VR) for Executive Coaches

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Have you experienced virtual reality (VR)? Maybe you have tried a VR game at Dave & Buster’s? Or perhaps you have a friend or family member who has made you try an immersive experience using their Oculus or Meta Quest headset. For some of us, the closest we have been to a VR headset is the display at Best Buy! VR experiences have two components— physical headsets and collaborative platforms like Meta Horizon Worlds. For the most immersive VR experience, headsets are an essential factor. However, some VR platforms allow people to use VR without a headset.

Have you experienced virtual reality (VR)? Maybe you have tried a VR game at Dave & Buster’s? Or perhaps you have a friend or family member who has made you try an immersive experience using their Oculus or Meta Quest headset. For some of us, the closest we have been to a VR headset is the display at Best Buy! VR experiences have two components— physical headsets and collaborative platforms like Meta Horizon Worlds. For the most immersive VR experience, headsets are an essential factor. However, some VR platforms allow people to use VR without a headset.

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If you are ready to explore this trend, consider the technology requirements for yourself and your coachee. Do all parties see value in an immersive coaching experience? Do all parties have the digital literacy to make the session effective? Do all parties have access to the technology required for a successful VR experience? As you explore this coaching trend, understand there is a learning curve for the executive coach and coachee when utilizing VR.

If you are ready to explore this trend, consider the technology requirements for yourself and your coachee. Do all parties see value in an immersive coaching experience? Do all parties have the digital literacy to make the session effective? Do all parties have access to the technology required for a successful VR experience? As you explore this coaching trend, understand there is a learning curve for the executive coach and coachee when utilizing VR.

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What steps will you take to strengthen your digital literacy and your capabilities in coaching within an immersive environment?

What steps will you take to strengthen your digital literacy and your capabilities in coaching within an immersive environment?

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2. Maximizing Video Conferencing

2. Maximizing Video Conferencing

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For many working professionals, the COVID-19 global pandemic was an inflection point that spurred rapid digital adoption. For most, digital adoption in 2020 involved an increased use of video conferencing software. Every company has its preferred platform, from Zoom to Teams to Google Meet. (Some executive coaches have the joy of hopping from Zoom to Teams to Google Meet within a three-session period!)

For many working professionals, the COVID-19 global pandemic was an inflection point that spurred rapid digital adoption. For most, digital adoption in 2020 involved an increased use of video conferencing software. Every company has its preferred platform, from Zoom to Teams to Google Meet. (Some executive coaches have the joy of hopping from Zoom to Teams to Google Meet within a three-session period!)

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In addition to video and audio, consider the additional functionality available to enhance the coaching experience for the executive or leader. For instance, Zoom allows folks to utilize virtual backgrounds, collaborative real-time whiteboards, and an AI companion. There are many app integrations as well. Mural has a Zoom integration that helps coachees provide asynchronous contributions beyond the session or in between coaching sessions. Consider how the functions available to you as an executive coach may strengthen the self-discovery and growth of your coachees.

In addition to video and audio, consider the additional functionality available to enhance the coaching experience for the executive or leader. For instance, Zoom allows folks to utilize virtual backgrounds, collaborative real-time whiteboards, and an AI companion. There are many app integrations as well. Mural has a Zoom integration that helps coachees provide asynchronous contributions beyond the session or in between coaching sessions. Consider how the functions available to you as an executive coach may strengthen the self-discovery and growth of your coachees.

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How might you leverage the integrations and tools within video conferencing software to strengthen the outcomes for your coachees?

How might you leverage the integrations and tools within video conferencing software to strengthen the outcomes for your coachees?

Coaching Success in 2025

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Technology is crucial to the future of coaching in 2025—from AI to VR to immersive experiences. Advances and developments in technology can be scary because they often mean change and learning. Additionally, there are some key considerations to explore with each of these trends—from ethical considerations and cyber security requirements from clients to technology requirements or limitations. How might you intentionally integrate technology to enhance your coaching as you start the year? How might you evolve the coaching experience for your clients with technology? How might you leverage these trends to improve your coaching business in 2025?

Technology is crucial to the future of coaching in 2025—from AI to VR to immersive experiences. Advances and developments in technology can be scary because they often mean change and learning. Additionally, there are some key considerations to explore with each of these trends—from ethical considerations and cyber security requirements from clients to technology requirements or limitations. How might you intentionally integrate technology to enhance your coaching as you start the year? How might you evolve the coaching experience for your clients with technology? How might you leverage these trends to improve your coaching business in 2025?

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